as in stimulates
to give life, vigor, or spirit to
Mr. Clark animates history for his sixth graders by frequently showing up for class dressed like some famous historical figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of animates
Beyond the broad concrete steps that traverse the water-friendly (and automatically irrigated) xeriscaped front yard and through the lime-green door that animates the charcoal exterior cladding hides a small courtyard open to the sky, a classic feature in an Eichler home.
—
Mark David, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2025
Catholic social teaching, which is founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ and built on a commitment to the poor and the strangers among us, guides this work and animates those individuals who financially support it.
—William McCarthy, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
The film documents & animates Peter’s experiences as well as those of the family in Toronto.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
This uphill-battle swashbuckling is what animates Shamieh in her dramatic work too, which pretty consistently features norm-breaking women who cause havoc.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
That aspirational pride animates the Ice Age Trail, end to end.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 24 Dec. 2024
In an era of identity politics and culture wars, community sponsorship programs seem able to trigger a personal sense of responsibility for caring for others that animates people to override their partisan and social boundaries on an issue that is otherwise defined by them.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
That same energy animates Abe Beame’s illuminating story on the resurgence of repertory theaters in the post-COVID cinema world.
—Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Tuck deftly animates Czesława and her family, situating their lives within the larger context of Hitler’s effort to eradicate Poland and its culture.
—The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Mark David, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2025
Catholic social teaching, which is founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ and built on a commitment to the poor and the strangers among us, guides this work and animates those individuals who financially support it.
—William McCarthy, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
The film documents & animates Peter’s experiences as well as those of the family in Toronto.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
This uphill-battle swashbuckling is what animates Shamieh in her dramatic work too, which pretty consistently features norm-breaking women who cause havoc.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
That aspirational pride animates the Ice Age Trail, end to end.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 24 Dec. 2024
In an era of identity politics and culture wars, community sponsorship programs seem able to trigger a personal sense of responsibility for caring for others that animates people to override their partisan and social boundaries on an issue that is otherwise defined by them.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
That same energy animates Abe Beame’s illuminating story on the resurgence of repertory theaters in the post-COVID cinema world.
—Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Tuck deftly animates Czesława and her family, situating their lives within the larger context of Hitler’s effort to eradicate Poland and its culture.
—The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animates
Verb
-
The chemical targets a different system in the brain than standard antidepressants, triggering the release of glutamate, which stimulates the growth of new synapses between brain cells.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Vähäsarja vigorously rubbed some cups on Landers’s back—cupping creates a vacuum and stimulates blood flow—and turned the whole thing bright pink.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This arouses the ire of the town’s belligerent sheriff (Colin Hanks, playing against type) and crooked theme park owner (John Ortiz) who decide to get revenge on the apparent family man causing them trouble.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The moon’s clash with Chiron arouses your pessimistic side.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Animates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animates. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share