incentives

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 turn-off

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.

“They are one of the few concrete incentives Iran can secure with Washington to stabilize its currency and ease domestic economic pressure.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026

“Homebuilders continue to offer incentives to buyers to clear some of that inventory,” said Nancy Vanden Houten, lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

But then the fertility rate began to drop and in 2025 it had fallen to 1.31, not much higher than when these incentives first launched.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026

Cheap stock options provide less incentives for the company to take risks.

From Salon • Jun. 13, 2026

For certain types of misbehavior, social incentives are terribly powerful.

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