embolden

Embolden is a verb with two primary senses. In a general sense, it means to make someone more confident, courageous, or willing to take action. It can also refer to increasing the emphasis or visibility of something, especially in typography or design, where text or elements are made bolder to stand out.

Etymology and history trace embolden to the prefix em- (a form of in- used before certain consonants) combined with bold, the noun/adjective meaning daring or strong. The word appeared in English in the Middle Ages and has retained both its psychological and its typographical meanings into contemporary usage.

In practical use, embolden describes a causal or motivational effect: praise, evidence, or risk can embolden a person or group to pursue a course of action. It can describe a more confident stance or a greater willingness to take risks. In publishing, computing, and design, embolden denotes applying bold styling to text or elements to increase emphasis or readability. This typographic use is common in word processors, web design, and typesetting where bold faces are used to draw attention.

Synonyms for the human sense include encourage, stimulate, hearten, and empower, while the typographic sense is closely related to bolding or weight adjustment. Antonyms include deter, discourage, and dampen.

See also: typography, bold, emphasis, motivation, rhetoric.