drive 1 of 2

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as in to run
to urge, push, or force onward cowboys drove the herd of cattle from San Antonio to San Francisco

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to motor
to travel by a motorized vehicle I'm going to drive across the country—want to come?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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drive

2 of 2

noun

1
2
as in campaign
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb drive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of drive are actuate, impel, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

When might actuate be a better fit than drive?

The words actuate and drive can be used in similar contexts, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When would impel be a good substitute for drive?

While the synonyms impel and drive are close in meaning, impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When could move be used to replace drive?

In some situations, the words move and drive are roughly equivalent. However, move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

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 drive
Verb
Lastly, in May 2024, Tamura was pulled over for driving a car with no license plate. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025 That in turn drove low wages for workers, high staff turnover and limited capacity for children. Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 26 July 2025
Noun
Details sent to the company included the health and read / write values of the drive using CrystalDiskInfo, which is a program that can read the SMART data embedded in most hard disks. Umar Shakir, The Verge, 7 Feb. 2023 As part of the drive for efficiency, NHS managers were pressured to keep bed vacancies low. David Luhnow, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for drive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive
Verb
  • The series ran for 11 seasons, beginning in 2010 until its final episode in 2022.
    Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • There's nothing like a chicken dinner recipe that's quick, easy, and delicious to make a weeknight menu run smoothly.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Global Upstart Since revving up its international expansion in 2010, Triveni Turbine has motored its way to the No. 2 spot in the market for its products, trailing only megabrand Siemens Energy.
    Anu Raghunathan, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Anyone who wants to motor up on a boat or jetski, dock and enjoy a waterfront meal.
    Constance Ogle, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has demanded that the list be released, Democrats are pushing the narrative that the Trump administration is orchestrating a cover-up, and yesterday the House subpoenaed the DOJ for additional files related to the case.
    Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Trump is pushing red states to make changes now to give Republicans a boost in the mid-term elections, which tend to favor the party outside of the White House.
    Tony Cook, IndyStar, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Obama did much of this without Republicans forcing his hand.
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025
  • The International Organization for Migration said nearly 60% of those forced from their homes were children.
    Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Pro Bowl linebacker was finally activated from the physically unable to perform list last Sunday after 11 months of rehabbing and trying to get back on the practice field.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The fire alarm at Lowe’s was activated after an employee spotted the fire, according to the Milford Fire Department.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Mederos had been more over the top, but the Angels moved his arm down about 10 degrees.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025
  • For neighboring Arizonans hoping to glimpse the site of the spacecraft soaring overhead, the moving schedule may have caused some confusion.
    Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In 1971, President Richard Nixon met with the Emperor of Japan on the tarmac in Anchorage as Hirohito traveled to Europe for meetings.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
  • On the last day of the season, Athletic Club will travel to the Santiago Bernabéu to take on Real Madrid.
    Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • And because of the powertrain’s development, the engineers on the Formula E team can now feed data back to the road car programme in Nissan’s Japan headquarters.
    Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Tribal authorities had barricaded the roads for several weeks in 2023.
    Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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