1
2
3
as in to push
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
drove the plunger into the opening
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to force
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
the corrupt governor was driven out of office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to activate
to cause to function
machinery driven by waterpower
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to move
to set or keep in motion
this motor drives the gears, which then turn the shaft
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to travel
to proceed or move quickly
the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
raced our motorcycles along the drive
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2
as in campaign
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal
a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band
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3
as in desire
a strong wish for something
a drive to succeed in the television news business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in energy
active strength of body or mind
senior citizens who exercise regularly are more likely to have the drive to keep up with their grandchildren
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5
as in ambition
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
a great opportunity for a sales representative who is full of drive
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of drive
Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
App State’s lone scoring drive in the first half was pretty much gift-wrapped by Boise State, which had a roughing-the-passer penalty and a face mask call, accounting for 30 of the 75 yards.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drive
Verb
Her friend headed south, collected a group of migrants near the border, and drove back again.
—Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
Only a 4-minute drive from Helen in the tiny town of Cleveland, JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters & Tasting Room might just be one of the most scenic cafés in the South.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
App State’s lone scoring drive in the first half was pretty much gift-wrapped by Boise State, which had a roughing-the-passer penalty and a face mask call, accounting for 30 of the 75 yards.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive
Verb
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Kuina is teaching karate at her father’s dojo, Heiya is an influencer, Aguni is running the Hatter’s hat shop, and Niragi is trying to be better for his kid.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
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Developed by the late Silvio Horta and based on the Colombian telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea, Ugly Betty premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ran for four seasons until 2010.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The suspect fled the scene, motoring his boat toward the Intracoastal Waterway.—
Chris Arnold,
NPR,
28 Sep. 2025
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The tier officer turned a switch and Mulumba’s cell motored open.—
John J. Lennon,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Speaking in Rhode Island, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that signs of labor market weakness had pushed policymakers to shift their balance of risks in a way that justified a rate cut this month.—
Benzinga,
Freep.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The event comes as the government is careening toward a potential shutdown that could force some 2 million troops to work without pay if a spending bill doesn't pass Congress by midnight Wednesday.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
30 Sep. 2025
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Modern inkjets, including ink tank printers, will rarely force you to spend time cleaning with manual commands.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
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Any of these games will qualify to activate your preferred reward from bet365.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The traffic itself generally keeps moving rather than fully stopping.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
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Univisión moved the Premios Juventud to Panama and the Latin Grammys to Las Vegas, after hosting the 2024 event here.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Like hundreds of thousands of foreign professionals, Qian lived on an H-1B work visa — the document that tethered her job, her ability to travel, and her entire sense of security to the grace of her employer.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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For his third album, Tomlinson once again teamed up with producer Nico Rebscher (Aurora, Zoe Wees), and traveled to Santa Teresa in Costa Rica for inspiration in early 2025.—
Jason Lipshutz,
Billboard,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Following a 12-game non-conference slate, highlighted by home bouts with Utah State and Davidson, as well as road clashes with Virginia Tech and Appalachian State, the 49ers tip off what hopes to be a bounce-back year in conference play — starting on New Year’s Eve.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Sep. 2025
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Drivers should be prepared for changing conditions that include snow and icy roads.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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