encourage vs stimulate

encourage and stimulate both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
encourage	No	No	Yes	No
stimulate	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, stimulate is a hypernym of encourage; that is, stimulate is a word with a broader meaning than encourage:

Other hypernyms of encourage include cause, get, have, induce, make.

encourage (verb)	stimulate (verb)
spur on	cause to be alert and energetic
inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to	act as a stimulant
contribute to the progress or growth of	provide the needed stimulus for
	cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner
	cause to occur rapidly
	stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of
	stir feelings in