verb
embolden
Embolden (verb) means to make someone feel braver or more confident.
verb
1
To make someone feel braver or more confident.
"The sense that money and technology can overcome nature has emboldened Americans. Where money and technology fail, though, it inevitably falls to government policies – and government subsidies – to pick up the slack."
— Abrahm Lustgarten, How climate migration will reshape America: Millions will be displaced. Where will they go? (2020)
"About this time, the success of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway had emboldened people to think that it was necessary merely to invest in any proposed new line to be assured of at least a 10 per cent. return on their money."
— , The Northern & Eastern Railway (1942)
2
To make text bold in print or on a screen.
"Embolden the company name. Balance-wise, the company name could do with standing out more."
— Craig Grannell, Getting User Feedback (2007)
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Etymology
Formed from bold (adjective) with em- -en, a variant of the en- -en circumfix that forms transitive verbs denoting an increase in, or intensification of, the quality named. Compare Middle English embolden, enbolden ("to make bold, encourage") — with the modern English forms embold, enbold, imbold now obsolete — and inboldysshen ("to embolden, encourage").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for embolden
See all rhymes for embolden →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of embolden?
"embolden" (verb) means to make someone feel braver or more confident.
What is another word for embolden?
Other words for "embolden" include cheer, recreate, hearten.
What is the opposite of embolden?
The opposite of "embolden" is abash.
What are the different meanings of embolden?
"embolden" has 2 main meanings: 1. To make someone feel braver or more confident; 2. To make text bold in print or on a screen.
