Something that causes and encourages a given response

• encouragement

  1. Something that encourages
  2. An encouraging or being encouraged
  3. One that encourages.

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  1. Something that encourages
  2. An encouraging or being encouraged
  3. One that encourages.

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• fillip

  1. The snap made by a finger which is held down toward the palm by the thumb and then suddenly released
  2. Something that excites or stimulates.
  3. A light blow or tap given in this way

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  1. The snap made by a finger which is held down toward the palm by the thumb and then suddenly released
  2. Something that excites or stimulates.
  3. A light blow or tap given in this way

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• impetus

  1. The force with which a body moves against resistance, resulting from its mass and the velocity at which it is set in motion
  2. Anything that stimulates activity; driving force or motive; incentive; impulse
  3. Increased activity in response to a stimulus:

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  1. The force with which a body moves against resistance, resulting from its mass and the velocity at which it is set in motion
  2. Anything that stimulates activity; driving force or motive; incentive; impulse
  3. Increased activity in response to a stimulus:

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• impulse

  1. A sudden inclination to act, usually without premeditation
  2. (Mech.) The change in momentum effected by a force, measured by multiplying the average value of the force by the time during which it acts
  3. A sudden wish or urge that prompts an unpremeditated act or feeling; an abrupt inclination:

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  1. A sudden inclination to act, usually without premeditation
  2. (Mech.) The change in momentum effected by a force, measured by multiplying the average value of the force by the time during which it acts
  3. A sudden wish or urge that prompts an unpremeditated act or feeling; an abrupt inclination:

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• incentive

  1. Something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of reward, that induces action or motivates effort.
  2. Something that stimulates one to take action, work harder, etc.; stimulus

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  1. Something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of reward, that induces action or motivates effort.
  2. Something that stimulates one to take action, work harder, etc.; stimulus

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• inducement

  1. An incentive that helps bring about a desired state.
  2. (Shipping) The act of placing a port on a vessel's itinerary because the volume of cargo offered at that port justifies the cost of routing the vessel.
  3. (Law) Misrepresentation that leads a person to enter into a contract or transaction with a false understanding of the risks and obligations:

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  1. An incentive that helps bring about a desired state.
  2. (Shipping) The act of placing a port on a vessel's itinerary because the volume of cargo offered at that port justifies the cost of routing the vessel.
  3. (Law) Misrepresentation that leads a person to enter into a contract or transaction with a false understanding of the risks and obligations:

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• motivation

  1. The act or an instance of motivating
  2. Desire or enthusiasm to accomplish or achieve something
  3. The act or process of motivating:

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  1. The act or an instance of motivating
  2. Desire or enthusiasm to accomplish or achieve something
  3. The act or process of motivating:

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• prod

  1. Used as a disparaging term for a Protestant.
  2. Something that prods; specif., a rod or pointed stick used in driving cattle
  3. An incitement; a stimulus.

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  1. Used as a disparaging term for a Protestant.
  2. Something that prods; specif., a rod or pointed stick used in driving cattle
  3. An incitement; a stimulus.

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• push

  1. The act of pressing:
  2. A thing to be pushed so as to work a mechanism
  3. A provocation to action; a stimulus:

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  1. The act of pressing:
  2. A thing to be pushed so as to work a mechanism
  3. A provocation to action; a stimulus:

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• spur

  1. (Bot.) A slender, tubelike structure formed by a basal extension of one or more petals or sepals, often serving as a nectar receptacle; calcar
  2. Any of various pointed devices worn on the heel by the rider of a horse and used to urge the horse forward
  3. Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster's Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

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  1. (Bot.) A slender, tubelike structure formed by a basal extension of one or more petals or sepals, often serving as a nectar receptacle; calcar
  2. Any of various pointed devices worn on the heel by the rider of a horse and used to urge the horse forward
  3. Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster's Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

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• stimulant

  1. A food or drink, especially an alcoholic drink, believed to have a stimulating effect.
  2. A substance that acts to increase physiological or nervous activity in the body.
  3. A stimulus or an incentive:

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  1. A food or drink, especially an alcoholic drink, believed to have a stimulating effect.
  2. A substance that acts to increase physiological or nervous activity in the body.
  3. A stimulus or an incentive:

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• stimulation

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• stimulator

  1. A person, device or substance that stimulates.

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  1. A person, device or substance that stimulates.

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Something that incites especially a violent response

• goad

  1. A long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals.
  2. A sharp-pointed stick used in driving oxen
  3. An agent or means of prodding or urging; a stimulus.

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  1. A long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals.
  2. A sharp-pointed stick used in driving oxen
  3. An agent or means of prodding or urging; a stimulus.

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• incitation

  1. Something that incites.
  2. The act of inciting or moving to action.

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  1. Something that incites.
  2. The act of inciting or moving to action.

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• incitement

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• instigation

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• provocation

  1. An act or instance of provoking
  2. (Emergency medicine) The second step in OPQRST regarding the investigation of what makes the symptoms MOI or NOI improve or deteriorate.
  3. Something that provokes; esp., a cause of resentment or irritation

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  1. An act or instance of provoking
  2. (Emergency medicine) The second step in OPQRST regarding the investigation of what makes the symptoms MOI or NOI improve or deteriorate.
  3. Something that provokes; esp., a cause of resentment or irritation

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• trigger

  1. Something that induces intense emotional distress, especially by evoking memories of past trauma.
  2. An act, impulse, etc. that initiates an action, series of events, etc.
  3. A similar device used to release or activate a mechanism.

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  1. Something that induces intense emotional distress, especially by evoking memories of past trauma.
  2. An act, impulse, etc. that initiates an action, series of events, etc.
  3. A similar device used to release or activate a mechanism.

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