Empower vs. Encourage — What's the Difference?

Give (someone) the authority or power to do something

To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence.

To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority.

To give support to; foster

To equip or supply with an ability; enable

To stimulate; spur

(transitive) To give permission, power, or the legal right to do something.

To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.

(transitive) To give someone more confidence and/or strength to do something, often by enabling them to increase their control over their own life or situation.

To spur on, strongly recommend.

To give authority to; to delegate power to; to commission; to authorize (having commonly a legal force); as, the Supreme Court is empowered to try and decide cases, civil or criminal; the attorney is empowered to sign an acquittance, and discharge the debtor.

To foster, give help or patronage

To give moral or physical power, faculties, or abilities to.

To give courage to; to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to raise, or to increase, the confidence of; to animate; enhearten; to incite; to help forward; - the opposite of discourage.

To enable or permit; to give more opportunity for independent action.

Contribute to the progress or growth of;

Give or delegate power or authority to;

Inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to

Give qualities or abilities to

Spur on;