empowering
Giving someone control
Empowering describes something that gives people confidence, authority, or capability to act on their own behalf.
An empowering experience builds self-assurance; empowering legislation grants rights or resources to marginalized groups.
The word often appears in contexts of personal development, social justice, and workplace culture: She found the workshop empowering.
Sometimes overused to the point of losing meaning.
Encouraging effort or ambition
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
- affirmingDeclaring something true
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
energizing · galvanizing · rallying · rousing · heartening · invigorating · stirring · moving
Freedom from external control
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- agencyPower to act
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
- freedomAbsence of constraint
sovereignty · choice · self-governance · liberation · self-sufficiency · volition · self-direction · decentralization
Guidance from experienced person
- skill-buildingDeveloping new competencies
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- educationSystematic development of mind
- resourcesAvailable assets or supplies
tools · support · sponsorship · advocacy · coaching · guidance · access · opportunity
Progress toward maturity
- transformationThorough change in form
- flourishingProspering vigorously
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- progressionSequential forward movement
potential · self-improvement · evolution · breakthrough · cultivation · maturation · learning · achievement
One's sense of worth
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
- self-assuranceConfidence in one's abilities
- courageFortitude facing danger
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
conviction · self-respect · poise · self-worth · determination · backbone · self-belief · dignity
motivational
Encouraging effort or ambition
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
- affirmingDeclaring something true
hopeful · energizing · galvanizing · rallying · rousing · heartening · invigorating · stirring · moving · catalyzing
independence
Freedom from external control
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- agencyPower to act
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
freedom · sovereignty · choice · self-governance · liberation · self-sufficiency · volition · self-direction · decentralization · self-management
mentorship
Guidance from experienced person
- skill-buildingDeveloping new competencies
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- educationSystematic development of mind
resources · tools · support · sponsorship · advocacy · coaching · guidance · access · opportunity · facilitation
development
Progress toward maturity
- transformationThorough change in form
- flourishingProspering vigorously
- advancementForward movement or promotion
progression · potential · self-improvement · evolution · breakthrough · cultivation · maturation · learning · achievement · actualization
self-esteem
One's sense of worth
- assertivenessConfident self-expression quality
- self-assuranceConfidence in one's abilities
- courageFortitude facing danger
boldness · conviction · self-respect · poise · self-worth · determination · backbone · self-belief · dignity · pride
- encouragementencourage, encouraging, praises, hang in there, supports
- leadershipleadership styles, leader, leadership skills, boss, leading
- approvalsapproved, approve, authorizing, certification, endorsing
- emotional reactionsinspiring, moving, touching, heartwarming, chilling
- helping actionshelping, aiding, assisting, supporting, enabling
- assigningassigning, allocating, appointing, attributing, crediting
empoweringdisempowering
Removing capacity to act
weakening · debilitating · diminishing · undermining · crippling
empoweringoppressing
Unjustly burdening or controlling
subjugating · dominating · controlling · restricting · constraining
empoweringenervating
Causing loss of vigor
draining · dispiriting · demoralizing · exhausting · depleting