hearten
verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- bear up
- buck up
- buoy (up)
- cheer (up)
- chirk (up)
- embolden
- encourage
- inspire
- inspirit
- steel
Example Sentences
Haroon Moghul, CNN, 29 Apr. 2022 That had to hearten theater operators, who could use a few more wins of whatever scale after 20 months of brutal pandemic punishment. David Bloom, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2021 This summer’s book club lineup features two authors with riveting, intensely personal stories that resonate and hearten in these strange times of pandemic and recovery. Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2021 It’s a finding that will hearten leaders, including Biden, who seek to breathe fresh life into NATO next week. Washington Post, 10 June 2021 The whole episode should hearten the lawyers who defended Carlson against a 2019 defamation case. Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2021 Some questions had answers, but ones that may not hearten those struggling to get benefits. Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Feb. 2021 And while Nunez-Smith is less known in political circles, her role in creating a leading program to promote health equity will hearten those concerned about Covid’s impact on communities of color. John Tozzi, Bloomberg.com, 10 Nov. 2020 But no matter how profitable the Io turns out to be, the very fact that Binx and other companies are trying to bring products like this to market is heartening from a public health perspective. Mark Hay, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
1524, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
hearten
verb
hearten
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- inspire
- encourage
- embolden
- inspirit
- stimulate
- reinforce
- invigorate
- bear up
- reassure
- steel
- enliven
- provoke
- animate
- buck up
- buoy (up)
- assure
- strengthen
- galvanize
- energize
- excite
- cheer (up)
- chirk (up)
- fortify
- reenforce
- enforce
- quicken
- rally
- stir
- boost
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dishearten
- discourage
- daunt
- sadden
- demoralize
- depress
- undermine
- dispirit
- weaken
- debilitate
- intimidate
- enfeeble
- hamstring
- psych (out)
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of hearten are embolden, encourage, and inspirit. While all these words mean "to fill with courage or strength of purpose," hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.
While in some cases nearly identical to hearten, embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.
Although the words encourage and hearten have much in common, encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.
The words inspirit and hearten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.