carrot

Examples

• All

• Aid from Taiwan is used as a carrot to reward countries pursuing policies favorable to Taiwan.

  Academic text (1993)

• I think of it more as the carrot that comes with deadlines.

  Andrew Huberman

• Some people call this carrot or stick, but yes, you can do that.

• You know, hold out a carrot.

  The Myth of the American Sleepover (2011)

• The federal government would have the exclusive manner of applying the carrot and stick in employment policies.

  Academic text (1995)

• The congressional majority reacted to these issues with a "carrot and stick" set of policies.

  Academic text (2001)

• As our founders knew, the carrot as an incentive is a much mightier weapon than a stick.

  Academic text (1996)

• Incentives can be implemented as carrots or as sticks, with varying levels of financial benefit or disadvantage.

  Academic text (2012)

• Washington's new position shrewdly mixes a few carrots in along with the big stick.

  Academic text (2005)

• The company introduced a bonus system as a carrot to motivate its employees to meet sales targets.

Synonyms

I

incentive

vscarrot

439 3.9

A thing that makes a person want to do something, often a reward

is specifically a promised reward used to induce action

L

lure

vscarrot

29 4.3

A quality that tempts people by promising a reward

is a concrete promised reward, not just an attractive temptation

R

reinforcement

vscarrot

22 4.0

Giving praise or rewards to make someone repeat a behavior

is a single promised reward rather than the ongoing strengthening process

Antonyms

P

punishment

720 1.3

An action that makes someone suffer for breaking a rule, like a fine or time in prison

Idioms

D

to dangle a carrot

• Informal

1 4.4

Offer a small reward to make someone do something

O

to offer a carrot

• Informal

3.7

To give a small reward, like money or time off, to encourage someone to do something

U

to use a carrot

• Informal

4.2

Offer a reward to encourage someone to do something

Compounds

C

carrot stick

7 1.3

A thin piece of raw carrot eaten as a snack

C

carrot juice

5 1.0

A drink you get by squeezing carrots

C

carrot soup

1 1.0

A soup made mainly from carrots, often with broth and cream

W

wild carrot

1 4.8

A tall plant with thin leaves and small white flowers often found in meadows

C

carrot cruncher

• Slang

9.8

A person who mainly eats healthy food like vegetables

C

carrot family

• Specialized

4.1

A group of plants like parsley and dill with small umbrella-shaped flower clusters

C

carrot pudding

2.3

A sweet dessert made with grated carrots, milk, and sugar

C

carrot top

• Informal

7.7

A person with bright red or orange hair

C

cultivated carrot

• Specialized

2.0

A long orange root vegetable that people grow to eat

M

moon carrot

• UK

9.9

A plant with tall stems, thin leaves, and clusters of small white or pink flowers

How Attractive

bribe

137 3.6

to reward

328 1.3

carrot

• Informal

42 3.5

enticement

8 6.2

Surface Forms

Etymology