carrot-and-stick
adjective
car·rot-and-stick
ˌker-ət-ᵊn-ˈstik 
ˌka-rət-
: characterized by the use of both reward and punishment to induce cooperation
carrot-and-stick foreign policy
the carrot-and-stick style of sales management
Examples of carrot-and-stick in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some, like Mexico, will adopt a carrot-and-stick approach, enacting retaliatory tariffs on specific U.S. goods while offering concessions.
—
Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
The story with unauthorized migration and asylum seekers arriving at the border has been much the same: unilateral border control measures have been disruptive and unsuccessful, while more sophisticated carrot-and-stick approaches and cooperation with neighbors have yielded promising results.
—Edward Alden, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
Gun violence prevention On Thursday, lawmakers will debate a carrot in the carrot-and-stick strategy of gun violence prevention.
—Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
Trump's world view revolves around showing strength, a carrot-and-stick approach that usually is short on rewards and long on threats.
—Marc Caputo, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025
The winner was a carrot-and-stick combo, a donation not only made from the goodness of the heart but one that was good for the bottom line.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Biden ran a carrot-and-stick approach to border enforcement.
—Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2024
The willingness to spend truckloads on both Democratic and Republican candidates makes clear that the industry is using a carrot-and-stick strategy.
—Whizy Kim, Vox, 13 Sep. 2024
Since our calls to padlock these places seem to be going nowhere, maybe a carrot-and-stick approach could move the needle.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2024
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Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
The story with unauthorized migration and asylum seekers arriving at the border has been much the same: unilateral border control measures have been disruptive and unsuccessful, while more sophisticated carrot-and-stick approaches and cooperation with neighbors have yielded promising results.
—Edward Alden, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
Gun violence prevention On Thursday, lawmakers will debate a carrot in the carrot-and-stick strategy of gun violence prevention.
—Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
Trump's world view revolves around showing strength, a carrot-and-stick approach that usually is short on rewards and long on threats.
—Marc Caputo, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025
The winner was a carrot-and-stick combo, a donation not only made from the goodness of the heart but one that was good for the bottom line.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Biden ran a carrot-and-stick approach to border enforcement.
—Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2024
The willingness to spend truckloads on both Democratic and Republican candidates makes clear that the industry is using a carrot-and-stick strategy.
—Whizy Kim, Vox, 13 Sep. 2024
Since our calls to padlock these places seem to be going nowhere, maybe a carrot-and-stick approach could move the needle.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Carrot-and-stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carrot-and-stick. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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