Definition of inducementnext
as in convincing
the act of reasoning or pleading with someone to accept a belief or course of action gave up smoking only after a prolonged inducement by all the other family members

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun inducement contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of inducement are goad, impulse, incentive, motive, and spur. While all these words mean "a stimulus to action," inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

When could goad be used to replace inducement?

While in some cases nearly identical to inducement, goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

When can impulse be used instead of inducement?

The words impulse and inducement can be used in similar contexts, but impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.

buying on impulse

When is incentive a more appropriate choice than inducement?

The meanings of incentive and inducement largely overlap; however, incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.

a bonus was offered as an incentive

When would motive be a good substitute for inducement?

The words motive and inducement are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.

a motive for the crime

When might spur be a better fit than inducement?

In some situations, the words spur and inducement are roughly equivalent. However, spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.

fear was a spur to action

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 inducement Examples of inducement include acceptance of tuition payment or the offer or acceptance of any other valuable consideration. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Aug. 2026 The House settlement authorizes the CSC to review NIL deals for evidence of possible recruiting inducements and similar forms of compensation used to sway where athletes decide to play. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2026 As an inducement to get votes from conservative rural congressional members, the OBBBA included a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, but this is substantially less money than the Medicaid cuts will total across rural America. — Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026 The program was renamed cap-and-invest and refiners were given free emission rights as an inducement to remain in the state. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for inducement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inducement
Noun
  • So Nvidia and some of its largest customers proposed a new design, skipping several conversions and distributing power inside the building not through typical AC but through DC, the native form the chips want anyway.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Angels Stadium in Anaheim's 1998 conversion cut 19,076 seats, while Miami's Hard Rock Stadium cut 10,692 in its remodel in 2015–16.
    — Jonah Kaplan, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • None of this has to do with persuasion tactics or clever scripts.
    — Dr. Sariki Abungwo, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For generations, Americans of every political persuasion have chosen to safeguard extraordinary places for everyone who would come after them.
    — Mary Beth Laughton, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In reality, Blanding says, her sister didn’t need much persuading.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Goode needed no persuading about the beauty of animals like New Caledonian geckos, African bush vipers, Caribbean rock iguanas, and similar Cyclura.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inducement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inducement. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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