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 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 China actively targets Tibetan lamas in exile with inducements. Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026 Finalists are prohibited from obtaining votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means, including, without limitation, offering prizes or other inducements to members of the public, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 Yet our findings show that, whatever the eventual benefit may prove to be, the costs of inducement are notably higher than state officials initially projected. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for inducement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inducement
Noun
  • Advertising relies on campaign reporting to optimize conversion rates and return on spend, cloud infrastructure uses telemetry to monitor system health and uptime and finance uses data dashboards to track burn rates and prevent budget leaks.
    Paul Deraval, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • HiTHIUM also says power-conversion-system utilization is more than 20% higher than its previous-generation sodium-ion system.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Now Americans in every state and of every political persuasion this fall will be able to vote by mail, a secure, convenient and growing method that millions chose to exercise the franchise.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • In an interview, Colin Marshall, an ethics professor and author of a new book on persuasion, argues that ethical persuasion begins with treating people as reasoning partners rather than psychological systems to be managed.
    Eben Harrell, Harvard Business Review, 14 Sep. 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 19 Sep. 2026.

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