11 Good Synonyms For "Never Give Up"

Everyone likes to think of themselves as persevering. People don’t often like to “give up,” and it would help to come up with some encouraging ways to remind them not to. This article will look at good synonyms for “never give up.”

The preferred versions are “keep going,” “be persistent,” and “don’t stop trying.” They are all great replacement phrases that show someone is working hard toward achieving a certain goal. We don’t have to use “give up” (which can be a negative word) in any of these alternatives.

Keep Going

“Keep going” might look simple on the surface, but it’s one of the best ways to encourage someone to keep going and push through the pain. It works well because it doesn’t require any explanation as to what it means.

Sometimes, the best thing to say to someone that needs help is “keep going.” Keeping things simple is great because it’s clear what you mean from the get-go.

The idiom “keep it simple, stupid” is common in English. It lets people know that you should sometimes stop overthinking the things you’re trying to say because you’ll get more of a response out of simpler words or phrases.

Keep going, Matthew! We’re all behind you every step of the way! You just have to prove this to yourself.
We need you to keep going! We’re certain that you’ll be able to get this sorted if you just keep trying.
Keep going! Do not let your intrusive thoughts cloud your judgment! We all know you can do this just fine!

Be Persistent

“Be persistent” is another great phrase for encouragement. We can use “persistent” to make sure someone keeps doing something in the same fashion until it’s completed.

Sometimes, when a person tires, they slow down or stop working as effectively. “Persistence” is what someone must rely on if they want to keep pushing through, even when they are getting to the brink of tiredness and fatigue.

Remember to be persistent no matter what. It’s important that you keep going with this because quitting is not an option.
I want you to be persistent. No son of mine was born a quitter. You just have to show me what you’re made of.
Just be persistent! That’s all I can ask of you, really. I know you’re destined for truly great things.

Don’t Stop Trying

“Don’t stop trying” is a simple motivational quote we can use. It’s important for people to “try” when they’re trying to win something or to get to a specific target or goal.

Encouraging someone not to “stop trying” shows that we’re backing them. It allows them to understand that we’re supporting them, which should be enough to help them get through it.

Don’t stop trying. Why have you slowed down? You know you’ve got this in you, and we all believe in you.
Do not stop trying! You haven’t given it your all yet. We are all behind you every step of the way! Just make it happen.
You can’t stop trying now! You’re so close to the end. I know you’re capable. You just need to prove it to yourself.

Never Say Never

“Never say never” is an idiomatic expression used to help encourage someone to keep going. The idea is that saying “never” means that someone has given up.

If they can avoid saying “never,” they will instead think of the opposite word, “always,” which encourages them to keep pushing.

Look, never say never. You never know when you’re going to succeed with something like this. Trust yourself.
Never say never, mate. I’ve believed in you for as long as I’ve known you, and now it’s time for you to see it for yourself.

Never say never! I don’t like how much you hate yourself for this. I know you’re capable of doing it.

Never Say Die

“Never say die” is another great idiom. This time, we use “die” as the negative phrase. The implication is that if you say “die,” it means you have surrendered, and you will never know whether you would have completed your task.

Never say die! That’s all I can say! It’s not over until it’s over, after all. Just keep pushing on.
Never say die, Sandra. I want you to get the most out of this, and I know you will do it if you keep working toward it.

This looks like a “never say die” situation to me. Just keep moving on. I know it hurts now, but it’ll be over soon.

Never Surrender

“Never surrender” is a more simple phrase involving “never.” It is not an idiom in the same sense as the other two. Instead, it just uses “surrender” to show that you should never back down or quit from whatever you’re trying to work toward.

Never surrender! Do you hear me? You can’t quit now! I know you’re going to get this done because I believe in you.
Never surrender, Jacqueline! I want you to show me that you can do it, even though I already believe you can.

I just have to say, never surrender! It’s important that you get this win to show yourself you can do it.

Don’t Back Down

“Don’t back down” is a great phrase we can use in many circumstances. “Back down” implies that someone has given up or taken themselves out of the running of a race. Naturally, using “don’t” shows the opposite of that, meaning they’ll have to keep fighting.

Don’t back down now! Look at how far you’ve come! Do you really want to give up on that chance?
No. Don’t back down! You can’t keep going at it like this. I know you can approach it differently.
Don’t back down again! I don’t want to see you throw away your hopes and dreams for no good reason.

Do Not Yield

“Do not yield” is another great demand. We usually say it to other people when we are convincing them to keep fighting toward a goal or target.

“Yield” means to give in or surrender. It’s a more old-fashioned word that doesn’t get used much these days. However, it’s still powerful enough to get the results you want.

We think it’s a great choice when you’re trying to be supportive and let someone know that they shouldn’t give up.

Do not yield! I know I say that a lot, but I actually mean it this time. I can see that you want this, and I know you’re going to get it.
Do not yield, mister! I think you’re more than capable of getting this done. Just keep moving until you’re at the end.

I do not yield. I don’t see the point in it. I want to make sure I see everything through until the end.

Do Not Quit

“Do not quit” is another great demand. We can use “quit” this time to show that someone should not surrender their opportunity. Quitting almost always ends in regret, which is what we’re trying to avoid doing.

“Quit” is more commonly used (thus, more clearly defined) than “yield.” That’s why it’s still a great choice in its own right when supporting someone.

I do not quit. There’s no reason to, after all. If I quit, I would never learn what I’m truly capable of, and that’s no fun.
Do not quit! You can’t get all this way only to fall at the final hurdle. Go out there and show them that you’re able to do this.

Do not quit! Why do you keep thinking like you’re not good enough? I’m tired of you pretending it’s over.

Don’t Concede

“Don’t concede” is a great choice to make sure someone doesn’t give up too easily. “Concede” is just like “yield.” It means “surrender,” but it’s not commonly heard anymore because words like “quit” are much more common.

Still, you can use “concede” whenever you want someone to stick to their guns. It’s also common to combine it into phrases like “concede your victory” or “concede your worth.”

Don’t concede your victory. You’ll be surprised by how far you can get. You just have to keep going until you’ve finally got it figured out.
Do not concede. You will hate yourself for the rest of your life if you give up on this right now.

I don’t concede. Never. I have a lot to prove to myself, and I will always find a way to make sure I can show the world who I am.

Keep Pushing On

“Keep pushing on” is a motivational phrase we use to remind someone not to give in. Sometimes, things can be very difficult or painful, and we need to “push” mentally to make sure we get through them.

We could also use “push” in the physical sense if someone is going through a sporting or athletic competition of some kind. They will physically need to push to make sure they succeed with whatever they’re doing.

Just keep pushing on! I know it hurts now, but you’re almost through the worst of it. Show me that you can do it.
I want you to keep pushing on now! I think you’ll surprise yourself if you just stick to the things you’re doing.

I want to keep pushing on. I don’t see any reason to quit right now. I’m ahead of most of the others.

Martin Lassen

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.