inducement

as in convincing
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action gave up smoking only after a prolonged inducement by all the other family members

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun inducement contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of inducement are goad, impulse, incentive, motive, and spur. While all these words mean "a stimulus to action," inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

When could goad be used to replace inducement?

While in some cases nearly identical to inducement, goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

When can impulse be used instead of inducement?

The words impulse and inducement can be used in similar contexts, but impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.

buying on impulse

When is incentive a more appropriate choice than inducement?

The meanings of incentive and inducement largely overlap; however, incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.

a bonus was offered as an incentive

When would motive be a good substitute for inducement?

The words motive and inducement are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.

a motive for the crime

When might spur be a better fit than inducement?

In some situations, the words spur and inducement are roughly equivalent. However, spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.

fear was a spur to action

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inducement Now, what could be behind all these issues, starting with the most obvious theory… The transfer portal Unlimited transferring, often paired with inducement via name, image and likeness pay, came into being as Georgia was winning its two straight national championships. Seth Emerson, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 But while many Hollywood productions have gone overseas in search of lucrative inducements, there are still plenty of creative — and non-economic — reasons a film would shoot outside the United States. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2025 Thailand has long been hostage to antiquated patronage politics, with cash handouts and other inducements distributed via influential local families, known as baan yai, commonplace to foster support. Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025 Regulatory punishments, rather than innovation inducements, are a massive drag on modern economies. David Doty, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inducement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inducement
Noun
  • After the score was tied at 23 at the end of regulation, the Raiders matched a Jaguars touchdown in overtime but failed on the 2-point conversion in front of their home crowd.
    Ric Sanchez, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Then, after Mahomes hit Travis Kelce for a two-point conversion to trim a 15-point deficit to seven, the defense did its part.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Kelly isn’t capable of lifting cars or running 60 miles per hour; his true strength seems to lie in the power of persuasion.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Human connection, never mind persuasion, is rarely a matter of a single conversation, but rather the work of months or years, maybe a lifetime.
    Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But Putin cannot have needed much persuading to agree to a formal invitation to the US to have the bilateral meeting his team have long held out as the way towards peace in Ukraine.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
  • In the framework of conversational intelligence, most workplace communication falls into Level 1 (telling) or Level 2 (persuading).
    Susan Curtin, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inducement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inducement. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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