inducer

noun

in·​duc·​er in-ˈdü-sər How to pronounce inducer (audio)
-ˈdyü-
Synonyms of inducernext
: one that induces
especially : a substance that is capable of activating the transcription of a gene by combining with and inactivating a genetic repressor

Examples of inducer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Because Lost had not yet trained us to expect such surprises, this was a genuine gasp inducer. — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 4 July 2024 Jeff Hoffman has been both a carrying force and anxiety inducer at times this year. — The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 The mass of migrating insects, the sound of the voice in the empty car talking of inducers and concurrents over the engine noise—in my mind, this is where this story began. — Ben Lerner, Harper's Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023 This bedtime hormone isn’t a soporific (sleep inducer) but a part of the circadian rhythm, a person’s internal biological clock that’s tuned in to the sleep-wake cycle. — Elana Spivack, Scientific American, 5 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for inducer

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1538, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inducer was circa 1538

Rhymes for inducer

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Browse Nearby Words

inducement
inducer
induciae
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Cite this Entry

“Inducer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inducer. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

inducer

noun
in·​duc·​er -ˈd(y)ü-sər How to pronounce inducer (audio)
: one that induces
specifically : a substance that is capable of activating the transcription of a gene by combining with and inactivating a genetic repressor

More from Merriam-Webster on inducer

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inducer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inducer

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