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
Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
As Legendary’s Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, Rich drives the global vision of marketing, branding, communications, while focusing on expanding the studio’s business through new technologies in marketing and data analytics.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Karl-Anthony Towns drives past Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals at MSG.
—CBS News, 11 June 2026
What drives you to keep making movies?
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 11 June 2026
Meanwhile, the ohmic-heating system drives electrical current through the plasma to raise temperatures and support confinement.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 June 2026
After a betrayal drives them apart and sours their relationship, the best friends become estranged from each other.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
He’s used to being the guy who drives a gap shot for an RBI double.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026
Add that tent and the $5,100 six-seat Crew Cab upgrade, and the Paragon drives and sleeps a total of six people.
—New Atlas, 4 June 2026
Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Castle has particularly been fantastic, with 18 points while making 7 of his 8 shots, and he's been relentless at getting into the paint using patient drives.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 June 2026
El Dorado, Placer, Yolo and Yuba counties do not have dedicated American Red Cross donation centers but offer mobile blood drives throughout their communities.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026
Chronically elevated insulin drives fat storage.
—Joshua Moen, STAT, 8 June 2026
In rural areas such as the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland, people deal with a shortage of local physicians, a lack of public transit and long drives to specialized clinics.
—Eric Wargotz, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2026
While visiting Shoshone, take advantage of scenic drives to some of the surrounding sites.
—Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Ranging from seemingly endless desert plains to rugged mountain ranges, the region is filled with scenic drives, plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure, and best of all, wide-open spaces that let the imagination roam free.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
Pitch for donations Donors at any of Stanford Blood Center’s mobile drives or centers this month, including the South Bay Donor Center in Campbell, will get two free tickets to a San Francisco Giants game.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 7 June 2026
Verb
At a time when corporate values are often reduced to wall art and mission statements, Paul Ingram has spent years studying what actually drives human behavior inside organizations.
—Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
As Legendary’s Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, Rich drives the global vision of marketing, branding, communications, while focusing on expanding the studio’s business through new technologies in marketing and data analytics.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 11 June 2026
Karl-Anthony Towns drives past Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama during first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals at MSG.
—CBS News, 11 June 2026
What drives you to keep making movies?
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 11 June 2026
Meanwhile, the ohmic-heating system drives electrical current through the plasma to raise temperatures and support confinement.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 June 2026
After a betrayal drives them apart and sours their relationship, the best friends become estranged from each other.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
He’s used to being the guy who drives a gap shot for an RBI double.
—Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026
Add that tent and the $5,100 six-seat Crew Cab upgrade, and the Paragon drives and sleeps a total of six people.
—New Atlas, 4 June 2026
Noun
Her organization organizes food and diaper drives in the six states where the credit union operates.
—Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Castle has particularly been fantastic, with 18 points while making 7 of his 8 shots, and he's been relentless at getting into the paint using patient drives.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 June 2026
El Dorado, Placer, Yolo and Yuba counties do not have dedicated American Red Cross donation centers but offer mobile blood drives throughout their communities.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026
Chronically elevated insulin drives fat storage.
—Joshua Moen, STAT, 8 June 2026
In rural areas such as the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland, people deal with a shortage of local physicians, a lack of public transit and long drives to specialized clinics.
—Eric Wargotz, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2026
While visiting Shoshone, take advantage of scenic drives to some of the surrounding sites.
—Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Ranging from seemingly endless desert plains to rugged mountain ranges, the region is filled with scenic drives, plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure, and best of all, wide-open spaces that let the imagination roam free.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
Pitch for donations Donors at any of Stanford Blood Center’s mobile drives or centers this month, including the South Bay Donor Center in Campbell, will get two free tickets to a San Francisco Giants game.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 7 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drives
Verb
-
And after several brain health retreats, Six Senses now runs a one-day Mind Your Brain program at several of its properties, from Fiji to the Seychelles, claiming to combat everything from brain fog to mental fatigue with activities like brain games, yoga, sound baths, and meditation.—
Melinda Fulmer,
Robb Report,
11 June 2026
-
Benjamin did say the operator runs a similar business elsewhere in Connecticut that successfully combines wellness with entertainment.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Add to this the onslaught of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years and the impact that tools such as large language models (LLMs) have had on the field of marketing, and you’re faced with a veritable juggling act—one that’s possibly never moved so fast in the whole history of the discipline.—
Emma Westley,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Liccardo asked Atkins whether the SEC has opened an investigation into the trades, and what tools the SEC has to investigate them.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Aries Moon pushes your mind toward bigger plans, but your best move may be stepping away long enough to feel what is true.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
-
Even if a possible outbreak pushes up prices, the changes would be incremental rather than a sudden jump like the price of eggs during the bird flu outbreak.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Richard Dreyfuss stars as an Indiana electric lineman/dad who gets discombobulated after a light from a passing UFO compels him to do weirdo things — like build a mountain replica inside of his home.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
-
Finding a way to do that, to have in-person contact with others to help them, literally compels her out of bed in the morning.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
With swift footwork, Bottura activates his celebrity to focus the world’s attention on the tragedy in Modena.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The carrier's new Unlimited Day Pass, available on eSIM-capable unlocked iPads, does not require a contract or a credit check before a $3 payment activates 24 hours of mobile broadband.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
As the aircraft moves backward, the pilot starts each of the primary engines and brings them up to a stable idle.—
David Szondy
June 07,
New Atlas,
7 June 2026
-
Printed circuit boards are the nervous system of every modern device, and when board costs spike, the pain moves fast through phones, laptops, wearables, gaming consoles, routers, and AI servers.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Ramsay speeds through many of the action shots to instead focus on Joe’s psyche.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
Adrenaline speeds up peristalsis, the contractions and constrictions of the intestines, while blood is diverted from the digestive system, which can cause nausea.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Authorities said hospital operations had resumed and that major highways, markets and commercial centers were functioning normally by Monday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
-
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drives. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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