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
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Recent Examples of animates
This conception of the self animates rational choice theory in the social sciences, with its reliance on the model of the utility-maximizing subject.
—
Sophia Rosenfeld
september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Yet what distinguishes Bowles’s work—what animates those strange, angular sentences, with their unexpected rhythms and turns of phrase and rabid energy—isn’t its interest in nonconformity but its obsession with spiritual transformation.
—Nicole Flattery, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
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
Sophia Rosenfeld
september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Yet what distinguishes Bowles’s work—what animates those strange, angular sentences, with their unexpected rhythms and turns of phrase and rabid energy—isn’t its interest in nonconformity but its obsession with spiritual transformation.
—Nicole Flattery, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animates
Verb
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The caffeine in coffee stimulates the nervous system.—
Team Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Connie and Tristan are testing a new drug that stimulates the feel-good dopamine receptors in the brain.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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 5 Oct. 2025.
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