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

Relevance

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 Crucially, the military should balance these financials with attractive inducements such as robust family health care coverage, prescription drug cost reductions, and partial pension possibilities for those who provide vital service short of a full 20-year career. Robert Krasner, STAT, 1 June 2026 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 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
  • Robert Fuller, a principal at Gensler working on the Pfizer building conversion, compared the project to surgery in an interview with Bloomberg last year.
    Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • Housing costs, healthcare expenses, travel expectations, currency conversion costs and lifestyle priorities all influence the amount of income required to support retirement, and where it’s invested.
    Shane Clark, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • But by the time a user clicks, a lot of that persuasion and convincing has already happened.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • When they can be hijacked by outsiders, parties are not able to do the work of selecting candidates, of building consensus, of doing the work of democratic persuasion.
    Nicholas Jacobs, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • And social media is presumably where AI will do much of its persuading.
    Robert Wright, Fortune, 24 June 2026
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inducement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inducement. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on inducement

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster