WordValeexhort
to strongly urge to action
In more detail
1. (verb) to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something
2. (verb) to give a passionate speech or appeal to inspire action or belief
Examples
- 1. The coach exhorted his team to play harder in the second half.
- 2. The activist exhorted the crowd to join the movement for change.
How to use exhort
Exhort carries a tone of earnest, forceful persuasion and is often used in formal, public, or moral contexts. It suggests a passionate appeal rather than simple asking, and typically appears in speeches, sermons, or appeals to groups. It is stronger than encourage but less neutral than persuade.
Common phrases
- exhort someone to do
- exhort someone to action
- exhort the crowd
- exhort them to resist
- exhort us to strive
Synonyms
urge · encourage · persuade · implore · beseech
Opposites
discourage · dissuade
Word family
exhortation (noun) · exhortatory (adjective) · exhorter (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse exhort with extort (to obtain by force or threat), which is very different in meaning and context.
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