| Main Entry: | incentive |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | lure, inducement |
Synonyms: |
allurement, bait, carrot, catalyst, come-on, consideration, determinant, drive, encouragement, enticement, excuse, exhortation, goad, ground, impetus, impulse, incitement, influence, insistence, inspiration, instigation, motivation, motive, persuasion, provocation, purpose, rationale, reason, reason why, spring, spur, stimulant, stimulation, stimulus, temptation, urge, whip |
| Notes: | the temporal orientation of incentive is toward the future; that of inducement is toward the past |
Antonyms: |
block, hindrance, turn-off |
| Main Entry: | ax to grind |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | hidden motive |
Synonyms: |
agenda, driving force, hidden agenda, incentive, motivation, motive, reason, score to settle |
| Main Entry: | bribe |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | payoff to influence illegal or wrong activity |
Synonyms: |
allurement, bait, blackmail, buyoff, compensation, contract, corrupt money, corrupting gift, enticement, envelope*, feedbag, fringe benefit, gift, goody, graft, gratuity, gravy, grease, hush money, ice*, incentive, inducement, influence peddling, kickback, lagniappe, lure, payola, perk*, perquisite, present, price, protection*, remuneration, reward, sop, sweetener, sweetening, take |
| Main Entry: | catalyst |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | something which incites activity |
Synonyms: |
adjuvant, agitator, enzyme, goad, impetus, impulse, incendiary, incentive, incitation, incitement, motivation, radical stimulus, reactant, reactionary, spark plug, spur, stimulant, synergist, wave maker |
Antonyms: |
block, blockage, preventer, prevention |
| Main Entry: | encouragement |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | help, support |
Synonyms: |
advance, advocacy, aid, animation, assistance, backing, boost, cheer, comfort, confidence, consolation, consoling, easement, enlivening, faith, favor, firmness, fortitude, helpfulness, hope, incentive, incitement, inspiration, inspiritment, invigoration, optimism, promotion, reassurance, reassuring, refreshment, relief, relieving, reward, shot in the arm, softening, solacing, stimulation, stimulus, succor, supporting, trust, urging |
Antonyms: |
denunciation, derision, deterrent, discouragement |
| Main Entry: | goad |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stimulus |
Synonyms: |
catalyst, compulsion, desire, drive, impetus, impulse, impulsion, incentive, incitation, incitement, irritation, lash, lust, motivation, passion, pressure, prod, spur, urge, whip, zeal |
Antonyms: |
deterrent, discouragement, diversion, restraint |
| Main Entry: | impetus |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stimulus, force |
Synonyms: |
catalyst, energy, goad, impulse, impulsion, incentive, incitation, incitement, momentum, motivation, power, pressure, push, spur, stimulant, urge |
Antonyms: |
block, check, hindrance |
| Main Entry: | inspiration |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | idea, stimulus |
Synonyms: |
afflatus, animus, approach, arousal, awakening, brainchild, brainstorm*, creativity, deep think, elevation, encouragement, enthusiasm, exaltation, fancy, flash*, genius, hunch, illumination, impulse, incentive, inflatus, influence, insight, motivation, motive, muse, notion, revelation, rumble, spark, spur, stimulation, thought, vision, whim |
| Main Entry: | lure |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | bait |
Synonyms: |
allurement, ambush, appeal, attraction, bribe, call, camouflage, carrot, come-on, con game, decoy, delusion, draw, enticement, fake, gimmick, hook, illusion, incentive, inducement, inveiglement, invitation, magnet, mousetrap, pull, seducement, seduction, siren song, sitting duck, snare, sweetener, temptation, tout, trap, trick |
Antonyms: |
deterrent, warning |
| Main Entry: | motivation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | ambition, inspiration |
Synonyms: |
action, actuation, angle, catalyst, desire, disposition, drive, encouragement, fire, get up and go, gimmick, goose, hunger, impetus, impulse, impulsion, incentive, incitation, incitement, inclination, inducement, instigation, interest, kick*, motive, persuasion, predetermination, predisposition, provocation, push, reason, right stuff, spur, stimulus, suggestion, wish |
Antonyms: |
depression, discouragement |