Emboldener

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A force or entity that instills bravery and assurance
2. An individual or object that fosters confidence, encouraging decisive and audacious behavior in others
3. Someone or something that inspires a person to feel braver or more confident

Etymology: "Emboldener" is a plain English formation: the verb "embolden" with the agent suffix "-er" added, producing a noun for a person or thing that does the emboldening. The verb itself is built from "bold" and the prefix "em-", which turns an adjective into a verb meaning to make someone bold or to give them courage. The base adjective "bold" goes back to Old English "bald," meaning brave or confident, and the prefix "em-" (a variant of "en-") carries the sense of causing a state to come about. Together they give "embolden," and adding "-er" yields a noun for whatever supplies that courage, whether a person, a drink, a rumour, or a success that makes others act more daringly.

Synonyms: encourager, motivator, inspirer

Antonyms: discourager, demotivator