emboldened

[ em-bohl-dnd ]

adjective

1. made bold or bolder; given the courage or nerve to do something daring, challenging, or controversial:

   It was unclear whether the missile fire was the work of an emboldened rebel force, the military, or some mixture of both.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of embolden ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of emboldened¹

embolden ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

Have they emboldened Davies’s critics, who will also have noted that there has been no discernible change to how he approaches his role?

From BBC

Upon her release, she competes with Oz and her own family for control of her late father’s empire, only to be betrayed again and again — and ruthlessly emboldened.

From Los Angeles Times

Over the last year of the war in Gaza, Jewish settlers have been emboldened by the support of far-right Israeli ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir.

From BBC

While the Conservatives promised then failed multiple times to follow through with big changes to the system, the newly emboldened Lib Dems put social care right at the centre of their successful election campaign.

From BBC

I’ve steeled myself against the bigotry and hatred for so long, and I’m so comfortable in my role as a cultural worker, that I feel emboldened by that sort of rhetoric.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buoyant
• cheerful
• comfortable
• confident
• eager
• enthusiastic
• rosy
• sanguine
• trusting
• upbeat