encourage crossword – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk, your ultimate resource for solving challenging crossword clues! If you're stuck on 'encourage crossword', you've come to the right place. Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of potential solutions, categorized by letter count, along with helpful explanations to boost your puzzle-solving skills.
Solutions for "encourage crossword" by Letter Count
4 Letters
SPUR: To urge, stimulate, or drive forward.
URGE: To strongly recommend or persuade someone to do something.
5 Letters
EGGON: To encourage or incite someone to do something, often something mischievous.
6 Letters
FOSTER: To encourage or promote the development of something good or positive.
7 Letters
BOLSTER: To support or strengthen; to prop up or reinforce.
PROMOTE: To support or actively encourage the cause, accomplishment, or progress of something.
INSPIRE: To fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially creative or positive actions.
More About "encourage crossword"
The clue "encourage crossword" is a classic example of a synonym-based clue, which relies on your vocabulary and understanding of nuances. The word 'encourage' has a rich semantic field, encompassing actions from gently urging to strongly motivating, and from supporting growth to inspiring creativity. This broadness is why multiple answers, varying in length and specific connotation, can fit the clue depending on the puzzle's constructor and other intersecting words.
When you see 'encourage' in a crossword, think about its various applications: encouraging a person, encouraging a process, or encouraging a feeling. For instance, 'spur' implies a quick, direct motivation, while 'foster' suggests a more gradual, nurturing development. Understanding these distinctions can help you pick the perfect word from a list of possibilities.
Crossword setters often play on these subtle differences, or they might use 'encourage' as part of a longer phrase, like 'egg on', which leads to a specific, less obvious answer. Always keep an open mind and consider all the ways a common word like 'encourage' can be interpreted.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Leverage Letter Count: The number of letters is your most powerful filter. If you have some letters already filled in, use them to quickly eliminate incorrect answers and narrow down your options from the list above.
- Think Synonyms and Antonyms: For a clue like 'encourage', constantly brainstorm synonyms. Also, consider the opposite (discourage) to see if it helps clarify the precise meaning the setter is looking for.
- Look for Hidden Meanings or Phrases: Sometimes a clue isn't a direct synonym but hints at a phrase. For 'encourage', think of phrases like 'egg on' or 'cheer up'. These can often be indicated by cryptic wordplay or specific word choices in the clue.
- Check Cross-References: Always use the letters you've already filled in from intersecting words. These fixed letters are invaluable for confirming or ruling out potential answers.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'encourage' mean in a crossword context?
In crosswords, 'encourage' often serves as a straightforward synonym clue, leading to words like SPUR, URGE, FOSTER, or BOLSTER. It can also imply 'giving support' or 'motivating' something or someone.
How do I find synonyms for 'encourage' in crosswords?
Start by considering the letter count. Then, brainstorm common synonyms for encouragement, such as words related to boosting, promoting, stimulating, or helping. Context from other solved letters in the puzzle can also narrow down possibilities.
Are there common traps for clues like 'encourage'?
Sometimes 'encourage' might be part of a phrase (e.g., 'egg on' leading to EGGON), or it could hint at a more abstract form of support, like 'NURTURE'. Always consider different shades of meaning and common idioms.