inducement

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 The various marriages, breakups, affairs, catfights, resurrection storylines, canine dream sequences, and Y2K-panic inducements have been a staple on Australian television, until Amazon took the series global by adding it to its Freevee platform. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2025 The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice. Rachel Hale, USA Today, 14 May 2025 The special inducement is that investors would be relieved of U.S. taxation on their foreign income and no job creation would be required. Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025 Along with being able to use a TIF as an inducement to development, the village wants to use it to create stormwater storage capacity at the mall. Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inducement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inducement
Noun
  • The adapter has four regional plug options for U.S. E.U., U.K. and Australasia conversion heads.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • The influencer pop sphere is, mathematically, a graveyard with more misfires than successful conversions of internet cachet into hit parades.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • There’s nothing Donald Trump believes in more than his own power of persuasion.
    S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 June 2025
  • Tusk had promised to relax both bans, but they are supported by some of the more socially conservative lawmakers propping up his government, and the threat of a presidential veto likely renders any efforts at persuasion futile.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 2 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inducement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inducement. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

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