INCUBATE Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

incubate

verb

ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt

Definition of incubate

as in to spawn

to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen incubated her eggs for two weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to promote

to help the growth or development of hopefully, these youthful visits to the museum will incubate an enduring love of art

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 incubate Since the pair formed in 2018, fans have watched them weather freezing winter storms, incubate eggs and dote on fuzzy chicks. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 After incubating another egg into April, the eagles started to leave it unattended. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 Hint ended up coming to life after being incubated at Montauk Capital; it’s raised $10 million, and investors include Slow Ventures, Tusk Venture Partners, and Brian Kelly (aka the Points Guy—a Stewart bestie who joined yesterday). — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 23 July 2026 To detain people who looked perfectly healthy, Ragusa’s councillors had to grasp that a disease might incubate unseen—an intuition that arrived roughly five centuries before germ theory could explain it. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for incubate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incubate

Verb

The iconic science fiction series, which has spawned a myriad of spin-offs and feature films (not to mention all the merch), has inspired countless engineers, scientists and space fans over six decades.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
The era also spawned a spate of straight-to-video series like Girls Gone Wild and The Best of Backyard Wrestling, advertised heavily on the outer fringes of cable and late night TV.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of spawn

Verb

The most important step countries can collectively take is to promote innovation.

— Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
But it is increasingly shaped by what’s happening on the other side of the country, in Washington, where the federal government is working to slow the transition to EVs and promote a fossil fuel future for America.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of promote

Verb

This pretty hamlet sits right on the Connecticut river in the foothills of the Green Mountains, so expect undulating blankets of colorful foliage in every direction.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
The company licensed the intellectual property related to the approach from the National Eye Institute, which sits within the National Institutes of Health.

— Emma Clapp, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of sit

Verb

By taking stem cells from a host’s own body and encouraging them to differentiate before mixing them with a commercially available, soluble matrix gel, researchers may have cracked the most critical problems in the transplant process.

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
The bark can also be stripped from the branch, called girdling, which encourages faster root growth.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of encourage

Verb

Nvidia made the investments to enhance its growth opportunities, cultivate its ecosystem and strengthen its competitive position, the company said in its earnings.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Another novel where the author explores how to cultivate the mind, body, home, and social circle in order to propagate creativity, and wonders what happens when any or all elements become fallow or diseased.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of cultivate

Verb

Not starting from scratch Fortunately, the groundwork for Canada’s expansion into Asia has already been laid.

— Barrett Bingley, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026
The New World screwworm lays eggs on warm-blooded animals – which can include humans – and its larvae screw themselves into the living flesh,leading to infections and sometimes death.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of lay

Verb

Although security needs to be nurtured year-round, the High Holidays offer a timely reason to review these best practices and improve the habits that keep our organizations safe in the weeks ahead and throughout the year.

— Richard Priem, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026
Steinem has encouraged generations to nurture their relationships and build community.

— Sara Noelle Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2026