self-motivated
adjective
self-mo·ti·vat·ed
ˌself-ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-təd 
: driven by one's own desires and ambitions : motivated by oneself
self-motivated students/employees
self-motivated learning
Examples of self-motivated in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Winning, in and of itself, is not enough for an impeccably gifted and self-motivated athlete who existentially must be involved in the act of winning.
—
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The young people who pick up popular science books at the library tend to be deeply curious and self-motivated—qualities that also characterize great researchers.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Emotionally intelligent people tend to be deeply self-motivated.
—Alex Vasquez, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Prior to having a kid, my time priorities were very self-motivated.
—Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 May 2026
Students need to be self-motivated and dedicated, though a parent or supervisor can always check progress and help ensure participation.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Beyond her artistic talent, Minh is a kind, collaborative, and self-motivated student who consistently uplifts her peers.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
While college students are more independent and self-motivated, younger students rely more on their parents for assistance.
—Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
For those not as self-motivated as my friend Buz, there are many stimulating courses to take and to teach all over town.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 July 2025
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.
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The young people who pick up popular science books at the library tend to be deeply curious and self-motivated—qualities that also characterize great researchers.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Emotionally intelligent people tend to be deeply self-motivated.
—Alex Vasquez, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Prior to having a kid, my time priorities were very self-motivated.
—Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 May 2026
Students need to be self-motivated and dedicated, though a parent or supervisor can always check progress and help ensure participation.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026
Beyond her artistic talent, Minh is a kind, collaborative, and self-motivated student who consistently uplifts her peers.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
While college students are more independent and self-motivated, younger students rely more on their parents for assistance.
—Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
For those not as self-motivated as my friend Buz, there are many stimulating courses to take and to teach all over town.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-motivated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-motivated. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
