empower
/ɛm-ˈpaʊ-ər/ElevatedTo give someone the authority, confidence, or means to do something.
“The new tools empowered the team to ship features twice as fast.”
Best for: Works well in professional, motivational, or leadership writing.
“Enable” does the job — but the right alternative does more. Here are 6 curated replacements, each with a definition, pronunciation, and an example of it working on the page.
To give someone the authority, confidence, or means to do something.
“The new tools empowered the team to ship features twice as fast.”
Best for: Works well in professional, motivational, or leadership writing.
To supply with the necessary tools, skills, or resources to accomplish a goal.
“The training equipped her to handle even the most difficult negotiations.”
Best for: Strong and direct; suits instructional or practical writing.
To make someone capable or qualified to perform a specific function.
“The legislation was designed to capacitate local councils to act independently.”
Best for: Formal and technical; fits legal, academic, or policy documents.
To make a process or action easier or more achievable.
“The bridge facilitated trade between the two isolated communities.”
Best for: Ideal for process-oriented, business, or academic writing.
To liberate or grant freedom and power to a person or group.
“The open-source platform enfranchised developers who had long been locked out.”
Best for: Carries a social or political charge; powerful in advocacy writing.
To increase the power, effect, or likelihood of something.
“Access to mentorship potentiated her already formidable ambition.”
Best for: Originally scientific; striking and unusual in general or literary prose.
Just want a quick list? See all synonyms for “enable” →
Wordsmith finds six curated alternatives for any word — free to try.
Try Wordsmith Free