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Enlighten vs Encourage - What's the difference?

enlighten | encourage |

As verbs the difference between enlighten and encourage

is that enlighten is to supply with light; to illuminate; as, the sun enlightens the earth while encourage is to mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.

enlighten

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To supply with light; to illuminate; as, the sun enlightens the earth.
  • To make clear to the intellect or conscience; to shed the light of truth and knowledge upon; to furnish with increase of knowledge; to instruct; as, to enlighten the mind or understanding.

    • Antonyms

    * endarken

    encourage

    English

    Verb

    (encourag)
  • To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.
    • I encouraged him during his race.
  • To spur on, strongly recommend.
    • We encourage the use of bicycles in the town centre.
  • To foster, give help or patronage
    • ''The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed

    Synonyms

    * (l) * (l)

    Antonyms

    * discourage

    Derived terms

    * encouragement * encouraging * encouragingly

    Related terms

    * courage