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
Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Jordan Coleman steps in as Cheyenne Barnes, a bold hairstylist whose confidence masks years of unresolved pain, while Tunde Oyeneyin plays Madison Truitt, a driven entrepreneur navigating success, expectations, and the search for real partnership.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Jan. 2026
Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Later that same day, police in Texas stopped a vehicle driven by Taylor Parker for erratic driving near De Kalb.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for driven
Adjective
The new funding will be used to expand Holywater’s platform capabilities, improve recommendation systems, and scale AI driven IP discovery rather than dramatically increasing headcount or production spend.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Jordan Coleman steps in as Cheyenne Barnes, a bold hairstylist whose confidence masks years of unresolved pain, while Tunde Oyeneyin plays Madison Truitt, a driven entrepreneur navigating success, expectations, and the search for real partnership.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
Inflation figures released this week show consumer and producer price rises at more than three-year highs, driven by the energy crisis stemming from the war with Iran.
—Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Later that same day, police in Texas stopped a vehicle driven by Taylor Parker for erratic driving near De Kalb.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for driven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for driven
Adjective
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Gene Hackman — who developed new shades of menace and gravitas with each passing year — turns in a career-best performance as the determined and obsessive Det.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
-
The obsessive insect scientist spent entirely too much of his career and a not-insignificant amount of taxpayer money watching screwworms doing the wild thing.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Bains, backed by Democratic Party leaders and major labor organizations, ran as a more moderate Democrat with a healthcare background who occasionally broke with her party on Assembly votes.—
Mathew Miranda
June 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
Bumila has drawn praise all year for his dominance, but Bishop Feehan again proved deep with a three-run day between Jack Gasse, Trace Reed and Carrera.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Re-tooled with new signings, the defensive inadequacies and erratic finishing that had held the club back during his first campaign were eradicated.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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But Theobald tooled the Zephyrs’ block, pushing the Tigers over the line with a 25-22 set 4 win.—
Andrew Cornelius,
Twin Cities,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The game finished 1-0 but FIFA ordered the whole match to be replayed (Uzbekistan pushed for an automatic 3-0 win, or at the very least to restart play from the 38th minute, when the penalty incident occurred, and with them a goal up).—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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Walz pushed back against claims during a Capitol Hill hearing in March.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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With Italy not in action and her not receiving a call similar to the one Eleonara Incardona received to cover the World Cup, she's been forced to cover her own vacation.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Theodat’s suit Theodat’s suit painted her as an accomplished leader who was forced out not due to any failings but because of discrimination.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Eco Effort All Maybourne London hotels are powered by 100% renewable electricity, and a solar power farm in Essex is underway.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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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
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As many agencies have limited how noncitizens can qualify for programs — like housing subsidies or commercial trucking licenses — the SBA moved to do the same.—
Alina Selyukh,
NPR,
12 June 2026
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Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, the cultural architect moved to Chicago to attend graduate school and receive a degree in computational sociology.—
Britt Julious,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Verb
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That ruling focused on the referendum campaign, which raced to collect signatures across Missouri last year to hold a statewide vote on the map in November.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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Retail traders raced to get in on SpaceX's IPO given their broad support for Musk following Tesla's success.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Driven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/driven. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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