incumbency

noun

in-ˈkəm-bən(t)-sē How to pronounce incumbency (audio)
Definition of incumbencynext
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 Bell has benefited from incumbency this time, with the New Democrats complementing the AIPAC spending for his campaign. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026 That removes the incumbency advantage the GOP has seen in the district. — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for incumbency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incumbency
  1. obligation
  2. duty
  3. responsibility
  4. office
  5. need
  6. promise
Noun
  • Someone who initially buys enough insurance to replace income, pay a mortgage and support young children, for example, could reduce the death benefit later as those obligations disappear.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • As work and home obligations take up more of your focus, burnout can slowly sap your sense of joy and wonder in everyday life.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • Selph says that nurses are often the ones who have to take on the duties of examining a patient and assessing them in person because a teleICU doctor can’t.
    — Alana Semuels, Time, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Giving up some play-calling duties has freed Frost to be more involved on the sidelines with other parts of the game.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of duty
Noun
  • Before Wilson went out, Buzelis played extensive minutes with these secondary groups, which afforded him greater on-ball privileges (and responsibilities) to create on the offensive end of the ball.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Employees experiencing grief, illness or other difficult personal circumstances may struggle to balance their emotional needs with professional responsibilities.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • The one-time head of Ayiti 2054, the political party Sanon claimed to be a member of, Désir was arrested Wednesday outside his law office in Petion-Ville, according to his Haiti lawyer.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • In addition, students with immediate financial hardship may receive assistance from their college’s financial aid office and basic needs center, officials said.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of office
Noun
  • Scott specifically called out the commerce secretary’s role in determining export regulations as a reason for his need to appear.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Allowing parents to earn the CTC from their first dollar of income targets the benefit toward those with the greatest need.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of need
Noun
  • Yet, Poindexter also argued the promises have not been lived up to.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The Moon’s square to Uranus favors responding to the new situation instead of defending the original promise.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of promise

Browse Nearby Words

incumbencies
incumbency
incumbent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of lissome

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All