incentive
Reason to act
An incentive is something that motivates action—a reward, benefit, or prospect that encourages a particular behavior.
Companies offer financial incentives to boost productivity.
Tax incentives promote certain investments.
The word implies external motivation: The bonus was enough incentive to finish early.
Incentive can also work as an adjective: incentive pay, incentive program.
Payment for service
- bonusReward beyond expectation
- commissionPayment for services rendered
- premiumAdded cost for better
- payoutMoney distributed to recipient
profit-sharing · gratuity · dividend · windfall · compensation · remuneration · perquisite · kickback
Thing that tempts
- baitLure for prey
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
- carrotEdible orange taproot
inducement · sweetener · attraction · appeal · hook · come-on · decoy · draw
Operate a vehicle
- ambitionDesire for achievement
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- enthusiasmIntense eager enjoyment
passion · purpose · zeal · eagerness · initiative · perseverance · willpower · desire
Agent enabling change
- triggerWhat initiates action
- sparkTiny fiery particle
- spurIncentive or heel device
- promptIncite to action
nudge · prod · goad · impetus · activation · kickstart · jump-start · propellant
Reduced price offered
- refundMoney returned after purchase
- subsidyFinancial assistance from government
- cashbackRefund from spending
- rebateReturned portion of payment
allowance · concession · reimbursement · write-off · deduction · credit · grant · voucher
To uphold or sustain
- reinforcementAdding support or encouragement
- praiseExpression of approval
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
acknowledgment · endorsement · boost · empowerment · inspiration · commendation · morale-booster · validation
Object of pursuit
- quotaFixed assigned amount
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- metricsStandards for assessment
- deliverablesContracted work products owed
results · output · productivity · efficiency · goals · standards · KPI · evaluation
reward
Payment for service
- bonusReward beyond expectation
- commissionPayment for services rendered
- premiumAdded cost for better
payout · profit-sharing · gratuity · dividend · windfall · compensation · remuneration · perquisite · kickback · earnings
lure
Thing that tempts
- baitLure for prey
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
carrot · inducement · sweetener · attraction · appeal · hook · come-on · decoy · draw · persuasion
drive
Operate a vehicle
- ambitionDesire for achievement
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- determinationFirmness of purpose
enthusiasm · passion · purpose · zeal · eagerness · initiative · perseverance · willpower · desire · hunger
catalyst
Agent enabling change
prompt · nudge · prod · goad · impetus · activation · kickstart · jump-start · propellant · driver
discount
Reduced price offered
- refundMoney returned after purchase
- subsidyFinancial assistance from government
- cashbackRefund from spending
rebate · allowance · concession · reimbursement · write-off · deduction · credit · grant · voucher · coupon
support
To uphold or sustain
- reinforcementAdding support or encouragement
- praiseExpression of approval
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
recognition · acknowledgment · endorsement · boost · empowerment · inspiration · commendation · morale-booster · validation
target
Object of pursuit
deliverables · results · output · productivity · efficiency · goals · standards · KPI · evaluation · achievement
- workplacehours, cubicle, desk job, holiday party, desk
- salessale, sales, selling, salesperson, salesman
- workplace rewardsaward, bonus, employee of the month, performance bonus, merit increase
- promptsprompt, prompts, prompting, cue, hint
- behavior changereinforcement, conditioning, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, reward
- phone surveyscall centers, call center, respondent, interviewers, interviewer
incentivedisincentive
Factor discouraging action
deterrent · discouragement · deterrence · dissuasion · penalty
incentivehindrance
Barrier to progress
obstacle · discouragement · barrier · block · impediment
- retirement incentivesRewards for leaving early
- tax incentiveGovernment break encouraging behavior
- incentive planRewards tied to performance
- financial incentiveMoney offered to motivate
- incentive payCompensation tied to performance
- incentive programStructured rewards motivating behavior
incentives, disincentive, incentivize, disincentives, disincentivize, incentivized, incentivizing, incentivizes, disincentivizes