| Main Entry: | instigation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | prompting |
Synonyms: |
abetment, encouragement, incentive, incitement, influence, stimulation, urging |
| Main Entry: | cause |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | agent, originator |
Synonyms: |
account, agency, aim, antecedent, author, basis, beginning, causation, consideration, creator, determinant, doer, element, end, explanation, foundation, genesis, ground, grounds, incitement, inducement, instigation, leaven, mainspring, maker, matter, motivation, motive, object, occasion, origin, prime mover, principle, producer, purpose, root, source, spring, stimulation |
Antonyms: |
consequence, development, effect, end, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, product, result |
| Main Entry: | excitement |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | enthusiasm; incitement |
Synonyms: |
action, activity, ado, adventure, agitation, animation, bother, buzz*, commotion, confusion, discomposure, disturbance, dither, drama, elation, emotion, excitation, feeling, ferment, fever, flurry, frenzy, furor, fuss, heat*, hubbub, hullabaloo*, hurry, hysteria, impulse, instigation, intoxication, kicks, melodrama, motivation, motive, movement, passion, perturbation, provocation, rage, stimulation, stimulus, stir, thrill, titillation, to-do, trepidation, tumult, turmoil, urge, warmth, wildness |
Antonyms: |
apathy, boredom, calm, calmness, dullness, lull, peace |
| Main Entry: | exhortation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | warning, urging |
Synonyms: |
admonition, advice, beseeching, bidding, caution, counsel, encouragement, enjoinder, entreaty, goading, incitement, instigation, lecture, persuasion, preaching, sermon |
| 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: | 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 |
| Main Entry: | provocation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | incitement, stimulus |
Synonyms: |
affront, annoyance, bothering, brickbat, casus belli, cause, challenge, dare, defy, grabber, grievance, grounds, harassment, incentive, indignity, inducement, injury, instigation, insult, irking, justification, motivation, offense, provoking, reason, taunt, vexation, vexing |
Antonyms: |
prevention, repression, suppression |
| Main Entry: | stimulus |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | provocation |
Synonyms: |
bang*, boost, catalyst, cause, charge, encouragement, eye-opener, fillip, fireworks*, flash*, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, incitement, inducement, instigation, invitation, kick*, motivation, motive, piquing, propellant, push, shot in the arm, spur, stimulant, stimulation, sting*, turn-on, urging |
Antonyms: |
discouragement, hindrance, tranquilizer |
| Main Entry: | incitement |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | motive |
Synonyms: |
incentive, incitation, instigation, provocation, stimulus |
| Main Entry: | incitation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stimulus |
Synonyms: |
bang*, boost, catalyst, cause, charge, encouragement, eye-opener, fillip, fireworks*, flash*, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitement, inducement, instigation, invitation, kick*, motivation, motive, piquing, propellant, provocation, push*, shot in the arm, spur, stimulant, stimulation, sting*, trigger, turn-on, urging |