He recently had the bad luck to incur his boss' wrath and got sent out to work in the boondocks.
Source: tatoeba (282853)
Incur
/ɪnˈkɜː/
Synonyms for "incur" (40 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (8)
Strong matches (12)
Related words (20)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: accumulate, acquire, arouse, arouse, attract.
- Sentence evidence is available for incur, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "incur".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "incur"
Keep "incur" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "incur" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "incur", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "incur" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
9 entriesCollocations
5 entriesincur costsincur debtsincur expensesincur lossesincur penalties
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
30 translations across 15 languages.
Arabic
1 entries- كَبَّدَ verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Bulgarian
1 entries- навличам си verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Catalan
1 entries- incórrer verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Danish
2 entries- pådrage sig verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- udsætte sig for verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Dutch
1 entries- zich blootstellen aan verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Finnish
2 entries- aiheuttaa verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- saattaa itsensä alttiiksi verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
French
4 entries- encourir verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- s'attirer verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- s'exposer à verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- subir verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
German
4 entries- (Missfallen) erregen verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- (etwas) auf sich nehmen verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- sich aussetzen (etwas) verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- sich einhandeln (etwas) verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Italian
2 entries- esporsi verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- incorrere verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Lithuanian
1 entries- pakliūti verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Norwegian
1 entries- pådra seg verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Occitan
2 entries- encorrir verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- encòrrer verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Russian
2 entries- подверга́ть verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- подвергну́ть verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Spanish
2 entries- incidir en verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- incurrir en verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Swedish
2 entries- utsätta sig för verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
- ådra sig verb (to expose oneself to something inconvenient)
Sample sentences
15 total sentences available.
You do not want to incur the wrath of God.
Source: tatoeba (1363505)
Notwithstanding the objections made by some of the corporations party to this arbitration, the committee has decided to remunerate the victims of the accident, as well as cover any medical expenses they may incur.
Source: tatoeba (5428765)
Additional charges may incur.
Source: tatoeba (7359006)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "incur"?
Closest matches include accumulate, acquire, arouse, arouse, attract.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "incur"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.