as in encouragements
something that arouses action or activity
the handsome reward for the missing dog was an incentive for me to start looking
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Recent Examples of incentives
Typically, auto dealerships secure purchase orders from private or public fleet operators interested in buying their zero-emission vehicles at the lower rates facilitated by the state incentives.
—
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Second, Connecticut should create incentives for insurance companies and financial services firms to partner with local training providers on apprenticeship and placement programs.
—Kevin J. Conlan, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
The causes are too few incentives to attract young people to the profession, and too few residency programs funded by the government to accommodate medical school graduates.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Built on the belief that responsible pet ownership grows when people have access to practical systems, useful incentives, and clear guidance, Pet Parent approaches animal welfare as a collaborative effort.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
However, West Virginia has not implemented a similar program, and lawmakers have instead prioritized tax incentives for higher-cost housing developments in recent years.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
That may be the new normal as the EV market resets to a market driven by organic growth, not incentives.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Continuing and expanding some of the housing incentives could also unlock several thousand more units this year.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
By acquiring majority ownership of Guess’s IP, Authentic has secured the right to direct licensing strategy, brand architecture and global partnerships with greater authority, reducing its reliance on minority stakeholders and aligning long-term incentives.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Second, Connecticut should create incentives for insurance companies and financial services firms to partner with local training providers on apprenticeship and placement programs.
—Kevin J. Conlan, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
The causes are too few incentives to attract young people to the profession, and too few residency programs funded by the government to accommodate medical school graduates.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Built on the belief that responsible pet ownership grows when people have access to practical systems, useful incentives, and clear guidance, Pet Parent approaches animal welfare as a collaborative effort.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
However, West Virginia has not implemented a similar program, and lawmakers have instead prioritized tax incentives for higher-cost housing developments in recent years.
—CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
That may be the new normal as the EV market resets to a market driven by organic growth, not incentives.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Continuing and expanding some of the housing incentives could also unlock several thousand more units this year.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
By acquiring majority ownership of Guess’s IP, Authentic has secured the right to direct licensing strategy, brand architecture and global partnerships with greater authority, reducing its reliance on minority stakeholders and aligning long-term incentives.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incentives
Noun
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In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The search warrant affidavit could shed light on the FBI’s motivations in seeking the ballots.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
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Hayley’s very upset by it, and that upsets Mickey, and that’s probably one of the biggest driving motivations for him, not just to save his own life, but to save his daughter and his family from the ramifications of this.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This suggests the presence of an internal, self-evolving latent variable—independent of external stimuli—that shapes the timing structure of motivation and decision-making.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
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Emotional numbing symptoms, in particular, are known to intensify this pattern of reacting sharply to negative stimuli and then shutting down emotionally.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incentives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incentives. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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