empower
Give someone strength
Empower means to give someone authority or power to do something: The new law empowers regulators to impose fines.
More commonly, it describes building confidence or capability in people who lack it: The program empowers young women to pursue careers in science.
This second sense became prominent in self-help and social justice contexts during the late twentieth century, sometimes attracting criticism for overuse.
Cause to act
- encourageUrge forward with support
- upliftRaise emotionally or physically
- energizeSupply with vitality
- galvanizeStimulate into action
spark · ignite · awaken · stimulate · enthuse · rally · invigorate · activate
Supply with necessities
- facilitateMake something easier
- resourcesAvailable assets or supplies
- toolsDevices for doing work
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
education · skill-building · competence · capability · access · provision · support · assistance
Freedom from external control
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
self-governance · freedom · agency · self-directed · self-rule · liberation · emancipation · enfranchise
Formal permission granted
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- permissionGranted right to act
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- delegateEntrust authority to another
commission · warrant · license · permit · charter · jurisdiction · accredit · ratify
One's sense of worth
- self-worthInternal sense of value
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
- self-assuranceConfidence in one's abilities
- self-beliefTrust in one's capabilities
self-respect · poise · boldness · courage · conviction · voice · agency · dignity
Make stronger against threat
- reinforceAdd strength to something
- bolsterStrengthen or buttress
- enhanceIncrease in quality
- build-upGradual amassing over time
consolidate · amplify · invigorate · resilience · robust · endurance · vigor · potentiate
motivate
Cause to act
galvanize · spark · ignite · awaken · stimulate · enthuse · rally · invigorate · activate · mobilize
equip
Supply with necessities
- facilitateMake something easier
- resourcesAvailable assets or supplies
- toolsDevices for doing work
training · education · skill-building · competence · capability · access · provision · support · assistance · preparation
independence
Freedom from external control
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
self-sufficiency · self-governance · freedom · agency · self-directed · self-rule · liberation · emancipation · enfranchise · unshackle
authorization
Formal permission granted
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- permissionGranted right to act
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
delegate · commission · warrant · license · permit · charter · jurisdiction · accredit · ratify · validate
self-esteem
One's sense of worth
- self-worthInternal sense of value
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
- self-assuranceConfidence in one's abilities
self-belief · self-respect · poise · boldness · courage · conviction · voice · agency · dignity · pride
fortify
Make stronger against threat
build-up · consolidate · amplify · invigorate · resilience · robust · endurance · vigor · potentiate · augment
- approvalsapproved, approve, authorizing, certification, endorsing
- marketing buzzwordssynergy, leverage, pivot, disrupt, scalable
- workplacehours, cubicle, desk job, holiday party, desk
- buzzwordssynergy, leverage, paradigm, stakeholder, scalable
- encouragementencourage, encouraging, praises, hang in there, supports
- governance verbsgovern, rule, reign, legislate, regulate
empowerdisempower
Remove capacity to act
disenfranchise · revoke · disqualify · deprive · divest
empowerdishearten
Cause to lose hope
discourage · demoralize · dispirit · undermine · crush
- women empowermentAdvancing females' rights and influence
- female empowermentWomen claiming their power
- empower womenEnable female advancement
- women's empowermentAdvancing female autonomy
empowered, empowering, empowerment, empowers, disempower, disempowered, disempowerment, disempowering, disempowers