1
2
3
as in pushes
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 compels
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 activates
to cause to function
machinery driven by waterpower
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in moves
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 speeds
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
1
as in highways
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
raced our motorcycles along the drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in campaigns
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal
a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of drives
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
If search reliability drives a beat, update evergreen explainers and refine the internal links that help readers stay oriented.
—Malana Vantyler, Ascend Agency, 6 Nov. 2025
One night, Bruce drives back to his childhood home, now abandoned, sits in his car, and and remembers growing up there with a distant, terrifying father and a mother who did her best to protect her young son.
—Henry Selick, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Kylie coaches a high school girls’ field hockey team, drives a green Toyota Sienna minivan and wears a sports bra every day.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The race against time That sentiment drives Yad Vashem’s mission today, as historians race to preserve survivors’ memories while these eyewitnesses to genocide are still alive.
—Jesse Kirsch, NBC news, 4 Nov. 2025
Curiosity drives everything now, but your bold approach pays off.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Growing as a Region Dubai Design Week is also fostering a sense of camaraderie across the region as a growing class of luxury consumers drives an uptick in new design events — from Riyadh to Doha.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025
Keeping the public safe is something that drives many aviation workers, even when they aren’t getting paid, despite the hardships on their families.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
To Chase’s point, the Bengals' defense did surrender 576 yards to the Bears, including four touchdowns and a field goal on six drives in the second half.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Some establishments are also hosting food drives or have community pantries available.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
To that end, UM had 11 drives (excluding the kneel down at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
The Bills held the Chiefs to just 305 total yards on 10 total drives.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Matt Milano, who was at outside linebacker to begin drives, exited the game for the Bills to bring on a sixth defensive back, and on Sunday, that was Ja’Marcus Ingram.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
After driving 75 yards in eight plays for a touchdown, the Cowboys collected 110 yards over their next 14 drives.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
Each of the Bills’ first three touchdown drives included an explosive play to a tight end.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
Can Green Bay finish drives with touchdowns without Kraft, who has hauled in six of Love's 13 TD passes this year?
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
If search reliability drives a beat, update evergreen explainers and refine the internal links that help readers stay oriented.
—Malana Vantyler, Ascend Agency, 6 Nov. 2025
One night, Bruce drives back to his childhood home, now abandoned, sits in his car, and and remembers growing up there with a distant, terrifying father and a mother who did her best to protect her young son.
—Henry Selick, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Kylie coaches a high school girls’ field hockey team, drives a green Toyota Sienna minivan and wears a sports bra every day.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The race against time That sentiment drives Yad Vashem’s mission today, as historians race to preserve survivors’ memories while these eyewitnesses to genocide are still alive.
—Jesse Kirsch, NBC news, 4 Nov. 2025
Curiosity drives everything now, but your bold approach pays off.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Growing as a Region Dubai Design Week is also fostering a sense of camaraderie across the region as a growing class of luxury consumers drives an uptick in new design events — from Riyadh to Doha.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025
Keeping the public safe is something that drives many aviation workers, even when they aren’t getting paid, despite the hardships on their families.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Queens went 6-for-30 (20%) from deep and Winthrop wasn’t much better at 8-for-25 (32%), which meant most of the game was contested the old-fashioned way, via drives and rebounding and tough defense.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
To Chase’s point, the Bengals' defense did surrender 576 yards to the Bears, including four touchdowns and a field goal on six drives in the second half.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Some establishments are also hosting food drives or have community pantries available.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
To that end, UM had 11 drives (excluding the kneel down at the end of regulation to send the game to overtime).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
The Bills held the Chiefs to just 305 total yards on 10 total drives.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Matt Milano, who was at outside linebacker to begin drives, exited the game for the Bills to bring on a sixth defensive back, and on Sunday, that was Ja’Marcus Ingram.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
After driving 75 yards in eight plays for a touchdown, the Cowboys collected 110 yards over their next 14 drives.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025
Each of the Bills’ first three touchdown drives included an explosive play to a tight end.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drives
Verb
-
Daily baguette runs to the local bakery – an errand that Anract says used to be as automatic and ritualistic as brushing teeth – have become less frequent.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Admission is $8 per person and gets you access to the International Space Hall of Fame and the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium, which runs daily shows and live presentations.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The domino effect pushes deliveries out, forces expensive air freight, and overloads suppliers.—
Raj Dhiman,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Nov. 2025
-
During times of high geomagnetic activity, which pushes the northern lights further south, the aurora will be visible directly overhead in the northern United States, according to the prediction center.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Dutch is a typical Schwarzenegger hero — all rippling muscle and bravery — but with a humane integrity that compels him to keep his team safe.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The hope is that, armed with new technology, that decline of foreign aid serves a rallying call that compels African countries to forge their own paths, free from the constraints of aid dependency and external policy pressures.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Moon in Virgo from November 13 to 15 activates your healing and subconscious sector, making this a powerful time to retreat, recalibrate, and listen to the whispers within.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The case magnetically attaches to the back and front of the Gen II and activates sleep/wake functions when the cover is opened and closed.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
First, coverage that moves with changing shapes across the day, not just throughout multiple months.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Thousands of flights have been canceled, a trend that is expected to continue this week even as Congress moves toward reopening the government.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Its greatest — and most realistic — role is as a legal safety net for when the world inevitably speeds past that limit.—
Sophie Yeo,
The Dial,
4 Nov. 2025
-
So, Don handles the electric clippers in the backseat while Teddy speeds away from the crime scene.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Suburbia offered the illusion of moral purity, deepening social segregation as highways allowed a quick access to and from the city centre.—
Fahad Zuberi,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That stark reality forced both sides to wage slash-and-burn propaganda campaigns designed to sow doubt and disinformation among their enemies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Anti-Trump activists are deploying an array of tactics to fight back against the policies of the President and his Administration — protests, marches, events, advocacy campaigns, social media videos.—
Time,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drives. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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