INCUMBENCY Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

incumbency

noun

in-ˈkəm-bən(t)-sē

Definition of incumbency

as in obligation

something one must do because of prior agreement few incumbencies of her office are as distasteful to the college president as fund-raising, of which there seems to be no end

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 incumbency How much weight does incumbency carry? — Philip Elliott, Time, 10 June 2026 But ultimately, the support for Rosen — through his prolific high-profile endorsements and corresponding fundraising advantage — along with the historical strength of incumbency in this countywide office, appear to have carried him to re-election. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 Assembly District 39 Democratic state Assemblyman Juan Carrillo’s incumbency was being challenged by Republican Paul Andre Marsh, a community services liaison. — Ryan Carter, Daily News, 3 June 2026 But Maine and Alaska are these outlying states, very different than the rest of the map, based off of media market, based off of incumbency and the particulars of the states. — ABC News, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for incumbency

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incumbency

Noun

That calculation can reveal a sizable amount of informal self-insurance that never received the same planning, funding or governance as other financial obligations.

— Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Bankruptcy could also put the district’s collective bargaining agreements at risk and potentially interfere with pension obligations.

— Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of obligation

Noun

Malzahn recorded an overall record of 68-35 in his eight seasons leading the Tigers, before being relieved of his duties following the 2020 season.

— Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Tariffs on cement, road salt and hospital pads were removed and replaced with duties on all-terrain vehicles, some cheeses and motorboats.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of duty

Noun

Capricorn December 22 – January 19 A professional conversation could become confusing if home responsibilities remain unspoken.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
Bassey and Robinson fail to sort out their marking responsibilities in the middle, and Kamada is allowed to ghost into the space to volley home.

— Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of responsibility

Noun

This also mirrored the home in which I was raised; my father went to an office every day and my mom stayed home (and drove all over town) taking care of my older brother and I, the house and garden, our pet dog, and our father.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
An exchange needs on-premise deployment inside its own perimeter; a broker is often better served by a hybrid model; and a family office or bank starts from regulatory requirements that differ case by case.

— Sergey Stopnevich, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of office

Noun

At each turn, a heartbreaking picture comes into sharper focus, underscoring Ricki’s destructive appetite that exploits Rita’s deepest needs and fears under the guise of friendship and no-judgement sisterhood.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
The tragedy immediately cast doubt on the need for light-hearted reality shows, much less one built around international travel.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of need

Noun

Choosing an online reputation management firm is an exercise in evaluating processes rather than promises.

— Scott Keever, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Kalshi and Polymarket, which have been assailed by critics for encouraging financial risk taking by making betting more accessible, are now using the promise of free groceries to win over New Yorkers.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of promise

Browse Nearby Words

incumbencies

incumbency

incumbent

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Incumbency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incumbency. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of incumbency

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quorum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes