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
The Trump administration has employed a carrot-and-stick approach to push Venezuela’s leadership to realign with U.S. interests.
—
Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
The more senior boss, who went by the name Da Hai, spelled out the carrot-and-stick approach more clearly.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 27 Jan. 2026
That contrasts with President Biden’s carrot-and-stick approach, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which offered generous incentives to manufacturers and consumers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025
This carrot-and-stick approach complements frameworks like CMMC.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
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
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
As with Mubarak, Sisi is using a carrot-and-stick approach in dealing with the Muslim Brotherhood.
—Muhammad Mansour, Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2016
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Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 11 Feb. 2026
The more senior boss, who went by the name Da Hai, spelled out the carrot-and-stick approach more clearly.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 27 Jan. 2026
That contrasts with President Biden’s carrot-and-stick approach, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which offered generous incentives to manufacturers and consumers.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025
This carrot-and-stick approach complements frameworks like CMMC.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
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
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
As with Mubarak, Sisi is using a carrot-and-stick approach in dealing with the Muslim Brotherhood.
—Muhammad Mansour, Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2016
Cite this Entry
“Carrot-and-stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carrot-and-stick. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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