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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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 Stops tampering, associations may prohibit inducements. Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026 Beijing remained unwilling to pressure its de facto ally, Russia, in support of European security priorities, despite Macron’s inducements. Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 22 May 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. Tim McGovern, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for inducement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inducement
Noun
  • Early data from the platform already reveals a massive spike in user engagement, boasting double the typical conversion rates and tripled time spent on site.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 June 2026
  • Since fewer conversion steps are involved, more of the original electricity reaches the wheels.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Californians of every political persuasion should want election results that are both accurate and timely.
    Matt Klink, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
  • Most people get information about politics and current events not from newspapers but from social media, which discourages engagement with human beings of different political persuasions.
    Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic, 6 June 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 17 Jun. 2026.

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