emboldened
Emboldened (adjective) means Made braver or more confident, usually by some success, encouragement or a sign that there will be no consequences. Example: “Emboldened by the crowd's reaction, she asked a second, sharper question.”
How to use emboldened
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMade to feel braver about doing something.
Neutral to formal; very common in news and political writing.
The usual pattern is "emboldened by" plus the thing that caused the confidence.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ by the crowd's reaction, she asked a second, sharper question.
Etymology
From embolden, formed from the prefix em- "to make" and bold.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for emboldened
Frequently asked questions
Is emboldened positive or negative?
It can be either, and the context decides. Emboldening a shy student is a good thing; describing extremists as emboldened is a warning that they now feel free to act.
What is the difference between emboldened and empowered?
Emboldened describes a change in nerve, a feeling of daring; empowered describes a change in actual authority or ability. Someone can be emboldened without gaining any real power.
Does emboldened mean made bold in text?
Not in normal use. For text formatting people say bolded or set in bold; emboldened refers to courage, though the typographic sense does turn up occasionally in software documentation.
What is the meaning of emboldened?
"emboldened" (adjective) means made braver or more confident, usually by some success, encouragement or a sign that there will be no consequences.