as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity
fear of failing should be plenty of motivation to study for the test
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Recent Examples of motivation
Cooperation turns into conflict Even countries that share common goals or values sometimes compete, and the motivations are rarely simple.
—
Kaleb Demerew, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
Still, the motivations behind the song feel somewhat obscured.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
While the Free Press and other media outlets previously reported details about the suspect's feelings about the church community, the FBI did not provide specific comment about religious motivation until this week.
—Dave Boucher, Freep.com, 2 Nov. 2025
In 2020, a militia group in Michigan plotted to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer, citing opposition to COVID-19 restrictions as their motivation.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Kaleb Demerew, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
Still, the motivations behind the song feel somewhat obscured.
—Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
While the Free Press and other media outlets previously reported details about the suspect's feelings about the church community, the FBI did not provide specific comment about religious motivation until this week.
—Dave Boucher, Freep.com, 2 Nov. 2025
In 2020, a militia group in Michigan plotted to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer, citing opposition to COVID-19 restrictions as their motivation.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivation
Noun
-
People think of puzzle games as endless (or nearly so), and after a day or so, all 35 levels can be soaked in and completed, with only the promise of a higher score as incentive to return.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
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If a cease-fire would precipitate these becoming realities, as European leaders in the coalition of the willing suggest, then Russia has a strong incentive to avoid a cease-fire altogether, even if combat operations are pursued at a lower intensity.—
Jack Watling,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That that might be the impetus for people to try to come together in some way.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The impetus for the collaboration came from Smith’s own experience using garlic in her cooking.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The program provides support and encouragement to those who are struggling with grief.—
Ramona Sentinel,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
With his mother’s encouragement, Galloway appealed his case to UCLA, and met with an admissions officer.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The salience network, which responds to external stimuli.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
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Without being able to compute directly from real stimuli, perceptual models could capture ideas in theory but fail simple real-world tests.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motivation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivation. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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