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Energize vs Empower - What's the difference?

energize | empower |

As verbs the difference between energize and empower

is that energize is to invigorate, to make energetic while empower is to give permission, power, or the legal right to do something.

energize

English

Alternative forms

* (Commonwealth English ) energise

Verb

(energiz)
  • To invigorate, to make energetic.
  • To supply with energy, especially electricity. To turn on power to something.
  • Whenever we energize that circuit we blow a fuse.
  • (obsolete) To use strength in action; to act or operate with force or vigor; to act in producing an effect.
  • * J. C. Shairp
  • Of all men it is true that they feel and energize first, they reflect and judge afterwards.

    empower

    English

    Alternative forms

    * empowre (archaic) * impower (archaic) * impowre (obsolete)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To give permission, power, or the legal right to do something.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1985, author=William H. Tench, title=Safety is no accident
  • , passage=Regulations have been made under the Civil Aviation Acts of 1949, 1980 and 1982 which empower Inspectors of Accidents to do these things.}}
  • To give someone more confidence and/or strength to do something, often by enabling them to increase their control over their own life or situation.
  • It's not enough to give women and minorities equal rights on paper; they need to be empowered to be able to make use of these rights.
    John found that starting up his own business empowered him greatly in social situations.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1992, author=Nick Logan, title=The Face, page=11-130
  • , passage=Musically, what originally attracted me to dance was its shamanist aspects, using natural magic to change people's neurological states and to psychologically empower them.}}

    Synonyms

    * (give permission to) allow, let, permit * (give confidence to) inspire

    Antonyms

    * (give permission to) ban, bar, forbid, prohibit * (give confidence to) disempower, dishearten, disspirit

    Derived terms

    * empowerment