Basic Details
Word: Embolden
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To make someone more confident or brave.
Synonyms: Encourage, bolster, strengthen
Antonyms: Discourage, deter, weaken
Idioms and Phrases
- Embolden oneself: To gain confidence in oneself. Example: "After winning the match, she felt emboldened to try for the championship."
- Emboldened by success: To feel more confident due to previous successes. Example: "He was emboldened by his success in the spelling test and decided to enter the competition."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The teacher aimed to embolden her students by praising their efforts and encouraging them to try new things.
Example 2: After reading inspirational stories, he felt emboldened to stand up for what he believed in.
Example 3: The support from her friends helped embolden her during the challenging performance.
Fun Fact
The word "embolden" comes from the Old English word "bealdan," which means 'to make bold'. This reflects its close connection to courage and confidence through the ages.
Famous Quote
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." Ambrose Redmoon
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "embolden" mean?
a) To make someone more confident
b) To weaken someone's resolve
c) To discourage a person
d) To confuse someone
Answer: a) To make someone more confident
2. Which of these is a synonym of "embolden"?
a) Discourage
b) Encourage
c) Deter
d) Weaken
Answer: b) Encourage
3. Which word is an antonym of "embolden"?
a) Strengthen
b) Bolster
c) Discourage
d) Encourage
Answer: c) Discourage
4. Which sentence uses "embolden" correctly?
a) The news emboldened him to be less assertive.
b) The teacher emboldened the students to express their ideas freely.
c) She felt emboldened after falling down.
d) He was emboldened to be shy in front of the class.
Answer: b) The teacher emboldened the students to express their ideas freely.
5. Which idiom means to gain confidence in oneself?
a) Emboldened by success
b) To be brave as a lion
c) A horse of a different colour
d) To take the bull by the horns
Answer: a) Emboldened by success
