motivator

noun

mo·​ti·​va·​tor ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-tər 

plural motivators

: one that motivates or impels someone or something

a subconscious motivator of behavior

: such as

a

: a factor or situation that causes people to feel motivated to do something : incentive

Only a fool, though, would deny that money is a very real and basic need and, of course, a motivator of sorts.

—Robert W. Corl

Exercising with someone else … can be a motivator.

—Joanne Lannin

Andre Harris, without basketball as a motivator, had slipped back into bad habits academically.

—John Feinstein

b

: a person who motivates others

But Romo's not an enabler; he's a motivator, says [Jessica] Simpson. "If I'm not feeling good about myself, he'll say, 'Get your butt up and go to the gym then!'"

—Michelle Tan

Examples of motivator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are plenty of motivators behind wanting to DIY a project instead of hiring a pro, including saving money, enjoying the feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes with successfully completing a project, and taking on a challenge. —Lauren Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2024

Tillman credits her mother as one of her biggest motivators. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 15 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above