inducement

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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Synonym Chooser

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 Framed as a jobs strategy, the 2025 increase from $330 million annually to $750 million, with other inducements, has already seen a vast increase in applications to a program that had been oversubscribed for a year. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 May 2026 The uncertainty over how the Supreme Court will rule could be an extra inducement for people suing Bayer to accept the pending deal, which is not dependent on the outcome of the case. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026 Currently, Baltimore City offers five different incentives to prospective homebuyers, including inducements for first-time homebuyers and residents moving into formerly vacant properties. Lily Carey, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026 One of the country’s largest builders, Lennar will integrate the Dandelion system into 1,500 or so houses in Colorado, where state tax incentives and other inducements drive the upfront costs of geothermal heat pumps even lower. Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inducement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inducement
Noun
  • The company’s executives warned that supply chain constraints could limit revenue conversion through 2027, however.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 2 June 2026
  • According to the company, its recruiting systems have helped generate qualified driver leads with a notable conversion rate in a highly competitive labor market.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Whether owners can get a cap — either by persuasion through the fall and winter, or more likely by canceling games next spring so players go unpaid — remains to be seen.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
  • Power of persuasion Camacho understands that.
    Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • The 70-year-old was explaining how the revival came about through years-long persuading of Emmy-winning creator and executive producer Linwood Boomer.
    Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Each distortion is what happens when the body does the persuading, and the ideas are just the wardrobe.
    Alexis Coe, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inducement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inducement. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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