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

Luhring Augustine moved into the 3,500-square-foot space in September 2020, as galleries flooded the neighborhood, lured by the low rents spawned by the Covid-19 crisis.

— News Desk, Artforum, 2 Oct. 2026
In Southern California, where SpaceX has spawned scores of aerospace and defense startups, Costa Mesa’s Anduril Industries closed its own record-breaking $5-billion funding round in May at a $61-billion valuation.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of spawn

Verb

The group emphasized that its request isn't intended to promote robocalls.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
The actor stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote their latest film, Digger (and gamely participate in a cooking segment with Wishbone Kitchen).

— Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of promote

Verb

The scale of the award also shows where the manufacturing bottleneck can sit inside a missile program.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2026
Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant offers a children’s menu, and the hotel provides cots, baby monitors and a baby sitting service if required.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of sit

Verb

Unlike many spas that focus on the healing effects of treatments, Kamalaya goes much deeper, encouraging guests to explore more emotional issues in a safe space.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Still, Terry Strada, whose husband, Tom Strada, was killed in the attacks, said she was encouraged that more than 100 family members of 9/11 victims turned out and by the judges’ questions.

— Tom Winter, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of encourage

Verb

To get her father and his siblings to offer answers to questions no one had ever dared ask in the past until Duong’s cameras rolled, an inventive hybrid documentary-narrative model was hatched for the film.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
The midges hatch from eggs and have three days to live, and their sole intent is to use that lifespan to mate.

— Zack Meisel, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of hatch

Verb

Despite being a weird device with a black-and-white screen and a crank jutting out the side, the Playdate has managed to cultivate a strong and constantly growing library of games.

— Andrew Webster, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026
The plant is also widely cultivated as a fodder crop for livestock.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of cultivate

Verb

For four months, the Napa grower spent four to five hours a day tending four giant pumpkin plants, watching their vines, nurturing their fruit and waiting to see just how big one of them might get.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Bellen's parents focused more on nurturing their children's gifts and interests like entrepreneurship and education and supporting their endeavors.

— Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026