incentive
Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.
Noun 2 meanings
Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.
“I have no incentive to do housework right now.”
A bonus or reward, often monetary, to work harder.
“Management offered the sales team a $500 incentive for each car sold.”
Adjective 2 meanings
Inciting; encouraging or moving; rousing to action; stimulating.
Serving to kindle or set on fire.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin incentīvus (“that strikes up or sets the tune”), from incinō (“to strike up”), from in- (“in, on”) + canō (“to sing”) + -ive. The formation appears to have been influenced by incendō (“to set on fire”).
Similar and opposite words
INCENTIVE at a glance
INCENTIVE has 9 letters and scores 14 points in Scrabble (I 1 + N 1 + C 3 + E 1 + N 1 + T 1 + I 1 + V 4 + E 1) and 18 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #7,347 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with incentive
All rhymesOne letter away
- INVENTIVE15
- INCEPTIVE16
- INTENTIVE12
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