incentive

[in-sen-tiv] / ɪnˈsɛn tɪv /

NOUN

lure, inducement

Synonyms

STRONGEST

encouragement enticement impetus motivation reason stimulus

STRONG

allurement bait carrot catalyst come on consideration determinant drive excuse exhortation goad ground impulse incitement influence insistence inspiration instigation motive persuasion provocation purpose rationale spring spur stimulant stimulation temptation urge whip

WEAK

reason why

Antonyms

STRONGEST

discouragement hindrance

STRONG

deterrent dislike prevention

WEAK

block turnoff

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You will never hear a financial expert with an incentive tied to your capital tell you to go to cash.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

The potential to automate tasks and give lawyers extra time to take on more cases is an incentive to pay top-tier prices for AI tools.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

But a tax attorney in Los Angeles, Andrew Gradman, wasn’t convinced the tax incentive was enough to curb a landlord’s appetite for the passive income of steady rent payments.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

There is an obvious incentive – to protect their factories and infrastructure.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

The incentive scheme that rules sumo is intricate and extraordinarily powerful.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

Vocabulary lists containing incentive

Fast Food Nation

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This Week in Words: February 5 - 9, 2018

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