Encouragement — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /in-ˈkər-ij-mənt/ en·cour·age·ment

Meaning & Definition of Encouragement

Encouragement (noun)

  1. the act of encouraging, the state of being encouraged
  2. something that encourages

Encouragement (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something that arouses action or activity

    "the huge rebates that the auto companies were offering were all the encouragement I needed to buy a new car"

    similar: boost, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulant, stimulus, yeast, shot in the arm
    related: inducement, invitation, antecedent, cause, consideration, grounds, motive, occasion, reason, catalyst, catalyzer, fuel, spark
    opposite: counterincentive, disincentive

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Encouragement

The most common words with a similar meaning to Encouragement:

boost, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulant, stimulus, yeast, shot in the arm

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Encouragement

Words with the opposite meaning of Encouragement:

counterincentive, disincentive

Related Words for Encouragement

inducement, invitation, antecedent, cause, consideration, grounds, motive, occasion, reason, catalyst, catalyzer, fuel, spark

Origin & Etymology of Encouragement

First known use: 1549

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Encouragement

Frequently Asked Questions about Encouragement

What does "Encouragement" mean?

"Encouragement" means the act of encouraging, the state of being encouraged. As a noun, it is defined as: the act of encouraging, the state of being encouraged.

What is another word for "Encouragement"?

Other words for "Encouragement" include boost, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, incitement and instigation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Encouragement" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Encouragement"?

There are 29 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Encouragement". Common alternatives include boost, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum and motivation.

What is the opposite of "Encouragement"?

Antonyms of "Encouragement" include counterincentive and disincentive.

How do you use "Encouragement" in a sentence?

Examples of "Encouragement" in a sentence: "the huge rebates that the auto companies were offering were all the encouragement I needed to buy a new car".

Is "Encouragement" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Encouragement" is a noun.

Is "Encouragement" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Encouragement" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Encouragement"?

"Encouragement" is pronounced /in-ˈkər-ij-mənt/ and divided into syllables as en·cour·age·ment.