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Incentivize 

A corporate-jargon non-word meaning "motivate," coined in 1968. Some 10 years later, it was shortened to the equally annoying verb "incent." Unfortunately, both are recognized by both Merriam-Webster and the OED.

The only respectable form of the word is the noun "incentive."
I would like to motivate him to never say "incentivize" again by telling him I will rip his windpipe out of his throat the next time I hear him say it.

I hope everyone who says "incentivize" in earnest knows they come across as a jargon-spewing ahole.
Incentivize by StephakneeSays August 5, 2008
Words you can keep

incentivize 

Verb, apparently. American version of the much simpler root word "incent".

Why they can't seem to cope with this much simpler word, I don't know.. obviously doesn't sound important enough.
From dictionary.com (yes, that's right, it's listed - to make matters worse, their definition of "incent" says, "to incentivize"):

"This bill will help incentivize everybody to solve that part of the problem” (Richard A. Gephardt)."

How absurd is that. Gah.

Napoleon Incentive 

When one's own self inadequacies lead one to be more ambitious and successful. Similar to the Napoleon Complex, which states that one of short stature may be more aggressive and domineering. It is named after Napoleon because he was of short stature, but was massively ambitious and successful, which many shorter men have to do in order to make up for their short stature.
Brett suffered from the Napoleon Complex and was bitter. His friend, Dave, had a Napoleon Incentive and decided to become more confident and funny to compensate for his height.

incentive 

Something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of reward, that induces action or motivates effort.
Jake was promised free entry into the bar if he mowed the lawn for his neighbor.
incentive by Ryan Thompson July 19, 2004

under-the-desk incentive 

the act of furthering your career by engaging in an inappropriate act with your manager or boss.
Chuck was planning on firing Sally until she unzipped his pants and gave him an under-the-desk incentive. She not only kept her job, she also got a raise.

incentivate 

To motivate, same as incentivize, but it sounds better.
We're going to incentivate the employees with cash rewards, raises, promotions and holidays.
incentivate by Dipshito May 7, 2007

incentize 

verb
What the boss likes to say when he's explaining how to get your business partners to act in what he thinks is your best interest. It falls somewhere between "encourage" and "coerce". Ironically, whatever it is he's trying to "incentize" them to do is in their best interest anyway, so "incentization" really isn't required at all.
"We need to incentize them to only buy the number of parking places they need."
"Why would they buy parking places they don't need?"
"That's why we incentize them!"

incentize by theghostlight October 9, 2008
More from Urban Dictionary

Back when I lived in upstate new york 

A meaningless, unimpressive, self-serving introduction. An indicator that the story about to be shared will be pointless and dumb.
Back when I lived in upstate new york, I also had to park on the street - on two occasions, we got enough snow, mixed with just the right plowing, that my car was lifted off the ground from so much snow being jammed underneath it.
Word of the Day on August 31, 2026
Acronym, meaning Too Long Didn't Understand
Similar to TLDR
Sister: This meeting was to discuss the rough draft of my essay, where we discussed the subsidiary questions I added in my rough draft. We also discussed the relationship between my main title and the real-life situations I chose to use in my essay. We discussed the structure of my essay as well, specifically the Math AOK section and how it relates to the contradiction of the title. This second meeting was particularly helpful in discussing the implications of my essay claims and how to apply the title across various areas of knowledge. There were many sections of the essay that could have been cut down in wordiness and the ways of knowing required further and more in-depth analysis.

Me: Woah! TLDU!
TLDU by L-Evans January 14, 2019
Word of the Day on August 30, 2026
the act of having anonymous sexual encounters with other men in public toilets.
Cottaging by greeef April 24, 2003
Word of the Day on August 29, 2026

Salad Days 

green inexperienced youthful judgement and cold blooded execution of those judgements.

Rashness with little concern of consequence.

Antony and Cleopatra. William Shakespeare

"My salad days,
When I was green in judgment, cold in blood."

- William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, 1.5
"How did you end up in jail?"

"Salad days, 'nuf said."
Salad Days by GilbyRFC0 October 7, 2011
Word of the Day on August 28, 2026

age gate 

An absolutely foolproof way to keep minors from viewing content deemed "too mature" for them to watch.
Billy: "So I was trying to watch some videos for an M rated game, and I ran into an age gate, so I put in my real birthday. SOMEHOW it managed to figure out that I am 12. CURSE YOU AGE GATE!!!"

Bill: "Fucking age gate! *quick scroll* THERE! I was born on January 1, 1904. Fuck you age gate."
age gate by Banja January 7, 2011
Word of the Day on August 27, 2026
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