as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
a man with a driven need to be loved or liked by everyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in pushed
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 forced
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 powered
to cause to function
machinery driven by waterpower
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in moved
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 raced
to proceed or move quickly
the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of driven
Meg Pillow
july 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 2025
But as a profoundly driven person all his life, such affirmations aren’t cause for pause but merely more propellant.
—Vahe Gregorian
july 25, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
Mark Dent, HubSpot, 7 Nov. 2025
In a press release Thursday, the state celebrated a major 3% drop in greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 ahead of COP30, driven largely by the growth of clean transportation.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for driven
Adjective
Just like Lana, there was someone clever, driven, working beneath the veneer of the beautiful temptress.
—Meg Pillow
july 31, Literary Hub, 31 July 2025
But as a profoundly driven person all his life, such affirmations aren’t cause for pause but merely more propellant.
—Vahe Gregorian
july 25, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
Verb
So, if the stock market is warped in a way that has driven stocks consistently upward, who cares?
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 7 Nov. 2025
In a press release Thursday, the state celebrated a major 3% drop in greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 ahead of COP30, driven largely by the growth of clean transportation.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for driven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for driven
Adjective
-
Without Jamie Lloyd’s cameras there to do close-ups, Scherzinger played the anti-heroine just a little less for obsessive mania and more for pure Barbra-style butter.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Lillard is perhaps known for portraying Stu Macher — one-half of the horror-obsessive-turned-serial-killing duo, alongside Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis — in the 1996 original, which has since spawned a decades-long franchise.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Under the public trees, children ran exultantly between cars.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The thumping Republicans took in this week's elections reflected longer-running anger among constituencies that already leaned Democratic, but the GOP needs to worry that the government shutdown will cause that frustration to spread.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When the season ended, Payton and general manager George Paton could have re-tooled the personnel on defense or let a couple of key contributors go.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Hayes’ arrangements are machine-tooled to immersive perfection.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia in 1935 and subsequent need for military support from Germany pushed Italy into a closer alliance with Hitler that, in turn, led to the imposition of anti-Jewish legislation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Offered only via the David’s Bridal site, the archival White by Vera Wang archival collection is being pushed out to shoppers via the retailer’s social media, site and email newsletters among other avenues.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And then the occasional strip club that I was forced to go to.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
Billboard,
3 Nov. 2025
-
According to Adams, Koehler forced the woman from her upstairs bedroom down to downstairs, purposely disorienting her — the basis for the kidnapping charge he was also found guilty of.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Inside, the Ingenieur Automatic 40 is powered by the in-house Caliber 32111, offering a robust 120-hour power reserve—an engineering feat that mirrors the endurance and performance demanded on the track.—
Carol Besler,
Robb Report,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
On an 0-2 pitch, Roberts moved the infield back to double play depth.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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The depth chart got even thinner when Jaishawn Barham, who moved back to inside linebacker after playing on the edge in recent weeks, left the game in the first quarter with an injury.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Brands raced to expand through new stores and soaring stock keeping units — using quantity as the main measure of success.—
Li Jun,
Footwear News,
2 Nov. 2025
-
When Quentin Grimes appeared to have an open fast-break dunk, González raced across the court to foul him at the rim.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Driven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/driven. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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