INCUBATING Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

incubating

verb

present participle of incubate

as in sitting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in promoting

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 incubating Pike's biological parents, Walker and Anchovy, had trouble incubating their egg. — Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 19 Aug. 2026 After incubating another egg into April, the eagles started to leave it unattended. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 During its most recent cycles, a majority of companies incubating within Y Combinator are building their structures using AI agent models. — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Molecular clouds can also be stellar nurseries, incubating new stars and planets in their depths. — Damien Pine, Scientific American, 13 July 2026 Believing a rock to be an egg, Roy and Silo took turns incubating it. — Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026 Matt was incubating and backing businesses like Resy, betting that New York’s density and culture were features, not bugs. — Patrick Chun, Fortune, 26 May 2026 Portman also has two new projects incubating. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2026 Additionally, the coalition is incubating new chapters soon to be launched in Rwanda, Uganda and Côte d’Ivoire. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incubating

Verb

People instinctively grab whoever happens to be sitting beside them.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
The Wiley painting, which was commissioned by the State Department in 2013, features four Dominican models, two men sitting and two women standing against a blue floral backdrop.

— Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of sitting

Verb

Earlier this year, the diner rolled out the Fiesta Chicken Protein Bowl, promoting the dish's 52 grams of protein.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Before putting your home on the market, talk with your REALTOR® about their strategy for promoting your property and whether your home will be listed in the MLS from the start.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of promoting

Verb

This mystery has tantalized scientists since Charles Darwin mused on it in 1871, spawning no shortage of competing theories about the origins of Earth’s biology around four billion years ago.

— Philip Ball, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Later in August, the salmon will begin to weaken and die after spawning.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of spawning

Verb

And in the summer working, caring for the garden, cultivating my plants, my food, inhaling the sun, seeing my skin become brown just as the flowers are also growing their colours, and my beloved garden plants are delivering their brilliant food.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
But cultivating consumer trust, as opposed to pursuing rapid product expansion and chasing virality, has become a defining — and differentiating — aspect of Westman Atelier’s go-to-market model.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of cultivating

Verb

The carrier is still under construction until 2034 but the Navy is under a time crunch to finalize the name as the ship’s keel-laying ceremony is expected at the end of this year, according to CNN.

— Michael Loria, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
The president and his allies have spent months laying the groundwork for potential fraud claims relating to the 2026 midterm elections.

— Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of laying

Verb

Given no one knows a business like its own people, sharing the most urgent challenges and encouraging new ideas at every level could make a tangible difference to the bottom line, and do away with productivity theater for good.

— Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Royal insider Rob Shuter reported that Kate is encouraging William to make up with Harry before the move.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of encouraging

Verb

Unlike typical events, the people themselves are the focus, fostering unity and action.

— Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The federal lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal filings brought by both former employees and jail residents that have accused Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden of poor leadership, inadequate inmate care and fostering a toxic workplace.

— Amber Gaudet Updated August 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of fostering

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incubating

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“Incubating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incubating. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of incubating

verb

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