Synonyms of moves

moves 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of move

1

as in relocates

to change the place or position of

I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relocates
• shifts
• removes
• transfers
• transports
• disturbs
• transposes
• displaces
• conveys
• replaces
• carries
• repositions
• hauls
• dislocates
• budges
• drives
• transmits
• transplants
• modifies
• alters
• supersedes
• supplants
• carts
• revises
• lugs
• varies
• reworks
• totes
• bears
• remakes
• makes over
• remodels
• redoes
• revamps
• refashions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sets
• freezes
• stabilizes
• secures
• fixes
• anchors
• roots
• embeds
• lodges
• moors
• implants
• entrenches
• ingrains

2

as in drives

to set or keep in motion

the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drives
• activates
• propels
• works
• actuates
• impels
• stimulates
• triggers
• raises
• provokes
• motivates
• stirs (up)
• incites
• sets off
• trips
• ferments
• inspires
• whips (up)
• excites
• rouses
• fires (up)
• foments
• arouses
• abets
• galvanizes
• instigates
• inflames

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• controls
• contains
• checks
• regulates
• restrains
• curbs
• inhibits
• constrains
• reins (in)
• bridles

3

as in shifts

to change one's position

don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shifts
• stirs
• squirms
• twitches
• wiggles
• fidgets
• locomotes
• jiggles
• budges
• tosses
• writhes
• wriggles
• fiddles
• rouses
• squiggles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• freezes
• remains
• stays
• stills
• hangs around
• stabilizes
• sticks around
• tarries

4

as in influences

to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response

we were deeply moved by the program of patriotic music

Synonyms & Similar Words

• influences
• affects
• impresses
• impacts
• touches
• strikes
• reaches
• sways
• inspires
• involves
• tells (on)
• interests
• gets to
• bothers
• penetrates
• attracts
• stirs
• dazzles
• disturbs
• fascinates
• concerns
• engages
• tries
• carries away
• transports
• troubles
• entrances
• worries
• colors
• plagues
• upsets
• biases
• stresses
• pierces
• harasses
• enchants
• afflicts
• perturbs
• enraptures
• ravishes
• enthralls
• smites
• captivates
• distresses
• agitates
• flusters
• charms
• disquiets
• pesters
• discomposes
• wrings
• harries
• bewitches
• strains
• discomforts
• allures

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bores
• wearies
• tires
• palls
• jades
• underwhelms

5

as in provokes

to rouse to strong feeling or action

the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provokes
• encourages
• stimulates
• stirs
• inspires
• motivates
• sparks
• arouses
• drives
• incites
• instigates
• excites
• motives
• induces
• fires (up)
• triggers
• revs (up)
• piques
• activates
• impassions
• ignites
• animates
• sets off
• builds a fire under
• galvanizes
• energizes
• fans
• quickens
• angers
• vitalizes
• gets
• bothers
• inflames
• raises
• pumps up
• enrages
• kindles
• teases
• upsets
• keys (up)
• foments
• ferments
• whips (up)
• taunts
• abets
• annoys
• aggravates
• maddens
• irritates
• exasperates
• jeers
• vexes
• galls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calms
• soothes
• subdues
• appeases
• tranquilizes
• placates
• pacifies
• mollifies

6

as in persuades

to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests

the report moved me to change my mind about the issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• persuades
• convinces
• brings
• satisfies
• gets
• induces
• urges
• gains
• argues
• wins (over)
• converts
• talks (into)
• prevails (on or upon)
• attracts
• brings around
• coaxes
• prompts
• lures
• seduces
• sells
• entices
• influences
• tempts
• sways
• cajoles
• exhorts
• entreats
• wheedles
• draws
• leads on
• discusses
• snows
• inclines
• blandishes
• interests
• beguiles
• allures
• debates
• fast-talks
• blarneys
• disputes
• converses
• overpersuades
• brainwashes
• hashes (over)
• reasons (with)
• chews over
• moots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discourages
• deters
• dissuades
• unsells

7

as in activates

to cause to function

this one button moves the whole machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activates
• triggers
• sparks
• drives
• powers
• starts
• generates
• fuels
• sets off
• pushes
• runs
• actuates
• provokes
• ignites
• turns on
• touches off
• cranks (up)
• charges
• fires
• switches
• launches
• electrifies
• energizes
• stimulates
• releases
• turns over
• trips
• accelerates
• kicks over
• reactivates
• discharges
• stirs up
• recharges
• excites
• incites
• instigates
• arouses
• quickens
• steps up
• catalyzes
• speeds (up)
• vitalizes
• kick-starts
• jump-starts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cuts
• kills
• stops
• turns off
• cuts out
• shuts off
• brakes
• checks
• arrests
• sticks
• stalls
• halts
• jams
• cuts off
• slows
• draws up
• deactivates
• suppresses
• represses
• decelerates
• stunts

8

as in exits

to leave a place often for another

the police officer told the loiterers to move along

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exits
• departs
• goes
• gets
• starts
• escapes
• flees
• evacuates
• parts
• quits
• flies
• walks out
• withdraws
• runs along
• bails
• pulls out
• gets off
• shoves (off)
• cuts out
• retires
• pushes off
• goes off
• digs out
• peels off
• packs (up or off)
• bails out
• beats it
• pushes on
• steps (along)
• books
• takes off
• skips
• retreats
• bugs off
• clears out
• clears off
• buzzes (off)
• emigrates
• sallies (forth)
• scarpers
• takes a hike
• buggers off
• sets out
• hits the road
• takes a powder
• bugs out
• pulls stakes
• vamooses
• strikes out
• abandons
• removes
• runs away
• pikes (out or off)
• vacates
• gets out
• absconds
• goes out
• steps out
• forsakes
• scats
• deserts
• lights out
• decamps
• mizzles
• scrams
• adjourns

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• comes
• arrives
• remains
• stays
• turns up
• shows up
• dwells
• settles
• approaches
• closes
• abides
• reaches
• lands
• hits
• nears
• lodges
• tarries

moves

2 of 2

noun

plural of move

1

as in means

an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result

retiring early was a smart move

Synonyms & Similar Words

• means
• measures
• steps
• shifts
• attempts
• efforts
• things
• resources
• actions
• acts
• tries
• goes
• activities
• procedures
• works
• initiatives
• dealings
• processes
• expedients
• feats
• proceedings
• doings
• operations
• projects
• proposals
• deeds
• passes
• successes
• coups
• events
• endeavors
• accomplishments
• triumphs
• enterprises
• cracks
• exploits
• courses
• achievements
• pains
• attainments
• exertions
• affairs
• undertakings
• countermoves
• propositions
• troubles
• stabs
• businesses
• flings
• countermeasures
• trials
• essays
• resorts
• whacks
• shots
• labors
• whiles
• countersteps
• makeshifts
• stopgaps

2

as in movements

the act or an instance of changing position

don't make a move

Synonyms & Similar Words

• movements
• shifts
• motions
• stirrings
• stirs
• relocations
• migrations
• squirms
• dislocations
• locomotions
• mobilities
• motivities
• motilities
• fiddlings

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stops
• pauses
• immobilities
• finishes
• inertias
• stoppages
• halts
• endings
• lapses
• terminations
• shutdowns
• discontinuances
• expirations
• cessations
• shutoffs
• surceases

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of moves

Verb

The Moon moves through your 7th House of Partnership, making interactions more direct and emotionally charged in subtle ways. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026

Both days could produce thunderstorms but Thursday has the higher likelihood of storms as the front moves through. —Rachael Jay, CBS News, 3 May 2026

As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 May 2026

Obviously, assuming the investigation moves forward, there will be an indictment forthcoming and all that is typical of what happens. —NBC news, 3 May 2026

As the Town Council moves toward final decisions on the FY2027 budget, residents deserve a clear and honest understanding of what this proposal actually means for their households. —Rickford Kirton, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026

Obviously, assuming the investigation moves forward, there will be an indictment forthcoming. —Rob Stein, NPR, 3 May 2026

As the Moon moves through your 11th House of Friends, collaboration brings fresh direction. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026

Noun

Sensitive data on pricing, routing, customer identity, and cargo contents moves across systems, where a single compromised credential can have a far-reaching impact. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 May 2026

The White House's aggressive policy moves have prompted a barrage of lawsuits — more than 700 and counting. —ABC News, 2 May 2026

But a review of hundreds of pages of court records by the Associated Press also shows an extraordinary record of violations in lawsuits over policy changes and other moves. —Sudhin Thanawala, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026

The quickness in his moves is influenced by his experience running multiple sprint events in high school track and field. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026

Storm personnel moves WR KJ Hamler (hamstring) will return to the lineup Sunday after missing two games. —Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026

Crews also need to recontour how water moves into storm drains and off site. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 2 May 2026

Grand masters typically spend countless hours studying and memorizing long sequences of moves suggested by computer programs. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026

The Armenian government’s sudden moves over the past year to boost its relationship with Israel were predictably met with outrage from many Armenians. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026