inducement

noun

in-ˈdüs-mənt How to pronounce inducement (audio)
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 At present, Lee’s hands are largely tied by the bevy of U.N. sanctions from 2016 and 2017 that effectively bar any economic inducements. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025 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.com, 30 June 2025 The aim is ensuring that such payments compensate athletes for their right of publicity, and are not used as inducements to recruit or retain an athlete. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2025 The Trump administration’s real agenda is the inspiration of fear and the inducement of conformity. —George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for inducement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inducement
  1. conversion
  2. persuasion
Noun
  • Everton sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, indicated a fee in the region of €9million (£7.87m, $10.6m at current conversion rates) was being discussed for Aznou.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 26 July 2025
  • Her character survived a group seizure, being sent to a gay conversion camp, blackmail from one of her best friends (Lili Reinhart's Betty Cooper), and a full season in which she was trapped in a cult.
    — Ryan Coleman Updated, EW.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of conversion
Noun
  • The other trades persuasion for provocation, and risks shrinking the very coalition needed to survive.
    — Sam Raus, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
  • That’s because under polarized conditions, a true swing state is usually the place where both parties make the strongest efforts at persuasion, where the stakes of each election seem highest and the fear of the other party’s rule is sharpest among partisans on either side.
    — Ross Douthat, Mercury News, 11 July 2025
Definition of persuasion

Browse Nearby Words

induced
inducement
inducer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inducement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inducement. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on inducement

Nglish: Translation of inducement for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All