This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

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adj. Giving courage, confidence, or hope: an encouraging advance in medical research.

adj. giving courage, confidence or hope

adj. supporting by giving encouragement

adj. auspicious, or bringing good luck

v. Present participle of encourage.

adj. Furnishing ground to hope; inspiriting; favoring.

adj. furnishing support and encouragement

adj. giving courage or confidence or hope

"To say the news coming out of the Gulf is not what you call encouraging is like saying it's been a rough week for Dennis Hopper."

supportive    heartening    inspiriting    rallying    hortatory    promotive    hortative    exhortatory    exhortative   

inspiriting    favoring   

encourage   

discouraging