INCUBATE Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

incubate

verb

ˈiŋ-kyə-ˌbāt

Definition of incubate

as in to spawn

to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen incubated her eggs for two weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to promote

to help the growth or development of hopefully, these youthful visits to the museum will incubate an enduring love of art

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of incubate Nesting is always perilous, but the moment when the male and female trade places is especially so, as the incubating bird’s movement may catch the attention of a predator. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 The scientists propose that Webb is catching supermassive black hole stars — up to 1 million times the mass of the sun — in the act of incubating the universe’s first big black holes. — Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026 Others, for certain, are incubated by gridiron versions of cheer moms, who shuffle their sons around in search of stardom. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026 After retrieving wild adults from several distinct bloodlines, scientists will attempt to incubate their eggs at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery and then transfer the survivors to hatcheries across the state. — CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incubate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incubate

Verb

In contrast to other Gulf monarchies, especially Saudi Arabia, Qatar sees no threat in the Muslim Brotherhood, the political movement that spawned Hamas.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
The award-winning podcast spawned the BBC World Service documentary The Secrets of Songwriting, and as of 2020, its interview archive is housed at the British Library.

— Lily Moayeri, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of spawn

Verb

Both those historic actions happened as part of the Biden administration's focus on anti-money laundering and efforts to promote compliance with the then-emerging virtual currency industry.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
One of Mitte’s last posts on Instagram this week promoted those showings.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of promote

Verb

While these tracks are endearing enough, Way Dynamic’s real magic sits at the juncture of folk and forlornness, when Young’s guitar is allowed to ramble and his regrets are sharp enough to bruise.

— Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
For founders sitting atop a mountain of stock, that beats selling shares, paying tax, and then giving away the cash.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of sit

Verb

Orphaned, the children are taken in by their irreverent aunt Berta, and begin a new life in the big city in a house frequented by intellectuals and where all kinds of political conspiracies are hatched.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Nvidia’s rise from an idea hatched in a booth at Denny’s to the world’s most valuable company is one of the defining business stories of the AI boom.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of hatch

Verb

Vance speaks with the manipulative skill of a politician who has cultivated a rapid-fire style designed not to persuade, but to overwhelm.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
The challenge is not racing to construct a synthetic copy but cultivating the capacity to recognize, interface with and leverage what has been present all along.

— Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of cultivate

Verb

The body was laid bare, via dramatic cutouts, lingerie, transparent and transluscent garments, to accentuate the form.

— Rachael Akhidenor, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
John Benjamin Hickey’s play-it-as-it-lays revival more frequently chooses to pretend that the obstacle isn’t there.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of lay

Verb

Launched in 2024, the initiative is part of El Gouna’s CineGouna Emerge program aimed at nurturing the next generation of MENA film professionals.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2026
The three children and a teacher shot to death at Silver Rail Elementary School in central Oregon were in a classroom dedicated to students with special needs – an environment that’s supposed to be nurturing, safe and supportive.

— Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026