emboldened

Rarely im·bold·ened

[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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of emboldened¹

embolden ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

“You got ICE agents who apparently feel so emboldened by what they do on a day-to-day basis, they’re essentially treating their own neighborhoods as an area they need to start investigating,” Kirakosian said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yet while he now might feel emboldened at building out scenes in larger ways, Baumbach also knows when to pull it back, zeroing in on the heart of a moment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This perception that the Fed would quickly step in if any real trouble arose emboldened a generation of investors who seized every chance to buy stocks at what felt like a discount.

Read more on MarketWatch

The result today is a splintered right and emboldened radicals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Or face off emboldened settlers who make increasing forays into the village to burn cars or destroy property?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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