INCUBATES Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

incubates

verb

present tense third-person singular of incubate

as in sits

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in promotes

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 incubates Echidnas, similar to the platypus, are monotremes, egg-laying mammals, and typically produce only one egg per breeding season, which incubates in the mother’s pouch, according to the San Diego Wildlife Alliance. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 16 July 2026 That person incubates the virus for five to seven days before becoming infectious to the next mosquito. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026 The Blue Sky group incubates new brands for the company behind Ashley Tisdale’s Being Frenshe. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 6 May 2026 The commission’s Saudi 100 Brands program, now in its fourth year, incubates more than 100 local labels annually. — Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026 While males participate in the nesting process by bringing food; only the female incubates the eggs. — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incubates

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
Bae Hyeon-seong plays Sun-woo in his first lead role in a feature film, and the knotty relationship between mother and son sits at the heart of the film.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of sits

Verb

Knowing the exceptions are happening should be the first step toward addressing those exceptions in a way that supports caregiving staff and promotes quality service.

— Colin Conner II, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
To support that conclusion, Gates cites a demand in Washburn’s petition to CWP that would prohibit the council from doing any outreach that promotes the role of hunting in wildlife management fully six months before an election.

— Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of promotes

Verb

In the sweeping farmlands near the Central Coast, a seed supplier that cultivates peppers, vegetables and fruit was hit with more than two dozen pesticide safety violations, some of them serious offenses that caused health or environmental hazards.

— Robert J. Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Like all classic noirs, Frank cultivates a sweaty, visceral realism to the main character’s desire to have a better life at any cost.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of cultivates

Verb

Unlike Gregor Samsa who is confined to his room after transforming into a huge insect, the protagonist still has to go to work, a dark and bleak absurdity that lays bare the alienation, isolation, and hypocrisy of modern life.

— Deadline, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
This autumn’s training – split between UK waters and the eastern Atlantic – lays the groundwork for more complex workouts in 2027, including NATO’s Steadfast Defender.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of lays

Verb

Applied to a solo outing, that approach encourages diners to appreciate the meal in front of them instead of scrolling through their phones.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Jordan says a recent guideline change encourages doctors to diagnose and treat sooner based on symptoms.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of encourages

Verb

Set in the evening, the scene broods as an unknown figure, only identifiable by his terrible Lego haircut and furry boots, stomps toward the Stallion Saloon.

— Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 3 June 2026
Veteran model Eva Herzigova is pictured in a sculptural skirt suit, while Liu Wen broods in a puffy leather bomber jacket.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

Definition of broods

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incubates

incubating

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“Incubates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incubates. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of incubates

verb

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