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Hearten

v. hopeful, resilient warm

What it means

To strengthen someone's courage, confidence, or hope.

Reach for it when describing encouragement that makes continued effort feel possible

The volunteers' early progress will hearten families waiting for repairs.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
warm
professional
literary

  • everyday

    cheer

    Fits when the immediate aim is lifting a low mood

    Careful Cheering someone can be brief and playful rather than courage-building.

  • everyday

    encourage

    Fits when you mean giving general confidence or support to act

    Careful Encourage can also mean urging action, while hearten stresses renewed spirit.

  • warm

    comfort

    Fits when care eases distress after pain or loss

    Careful Comfort is gentler and does not require added courage for what comes next.

  • warm

    inspire

    Fits when the support awakens purpose or a larger ambition

    Careful Inspire overshoots when a small sign simply makes someone less discouraged.

  • warm

    reassure

    Fits when fear or doubt eases because safety or support is made clear

    Careful Reassurance may calm someone without restoring determination.

  • professional

    motivate

    Fits when the desired effect is renewed effort toward a goal

    Careful Motivation can come from pressure or reward, not necessarily hope.

  • literary

    buoy

    Fits when news or companionship keeps spirits from sinking

    Careful Buoy is figurative and less direct in practical workplace writing.

  • literary

    embolden

    Fits when new confidence makes a person more willing to take a risk

    Careful It can imply recklessness or confrontation that hearten does not.

Opposites 3

  • discourage
  • dishearten
  • demoralize

Common phrases 3

  • hearten supporters

    The clear timetable should hearten supporters after months of uncertainty.

  • heartened by

    Residents were heartened by the careful work already visible on the bridge.

  • greatly hearten

    A message from her former pupils would greatly hearten the retiring teacher.

Word family 2

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated