Word: emboldened

Associations

The word "emboldened" means to make someone more confident or courageous. It often describes a feeling of strength that encourages individuals to act or speak up.

• The team felt emboldened after their recent success. (Here, the team's confidence grew due to their achievements.)
• She was emboldened by the supportive words of her friends. (In this case, her friends' encouragement made her feel braver.)
• The protest emboldened other citizens to speak out against injustice. (The protest gave others the courage to express their opinions.)

A well-known synonym for "emboldened" is "encouraged." The important difference is that "emboldened" often implies a sense of bravery or daring, while "encouraged" can simply mean giving support or confidence without the same level of boldness.

Substitution

Some other words that can be used instead of "emboldened" include:

• Empowered (this emphasizes giving power or authority)
• Inspired (this focuses on creativity or motivation)
• Motivated (this suggests a drive or reason to act)

Each of these substitutes carries a slightly different meaning and emotional weight, but they can all fit in contexts related to gaining confidence.

Deconstruction

The word "emboldened" can be broken down into:

• The prefix "em-" typically means "to cause to be" or "to put into."
• The root "bold" means brave or confident.
• The suffix "-ened" indicates the process of becoming.

Historically, "bold" comes from Old English "bald," which means "brave" or "strong," illustrating the idea of bravery at the core of the meaning of "emboldened."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt emboldened to try something new? What inspired that feeling?
• In what situations do you think people become emboldened? Is it always positive?
• How might someone feel if they are not emboldened when facing a challenge? What could change that?