SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
reinforcement
noun
Strengthening or support; in learning, a consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Added strength or support
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThis ordinary sense concerns added strength or persuasiveness. Confirmation supports a belief, while bracing commonly provides physical support.
Consequence that increases behavior
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPositive and negative reinforcement are types: one adds a consequence and the other removes one. Both increase the likelihood of behavior. The close phrase names the consequence; behavioral strengthening and increased responding describe its process or effect.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See reinforcement in use
The training example uses reinforcement to explain why a rewarded response becomes more frequent.
In the project's fictional exercise, a public acknowledgment served as reinforcement by causing contributors to submit useful corrections more often.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
- APA Dictionary of Psychology: Reinforcement
- APA Dictionary of Psychology: Positive reinforcement
- APA Dictionary of Psychology: Negative reinforcement
- Princeton WordNet 3.0: wn30-n-04336034, wn30-n-06650238
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license