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
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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
-
Understand what tools your child is using.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The city spends far less per person on its parks than other comparable cities and has seen its full-time workforce shrink by 28% since 2008, said Tori Kjer, executive director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, which pushes for more equitable access to park space.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
-
The side of the other foot then pushes the ball away before the outside of the same foot snaps it back in the other direction.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
16 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
-
This exercise compels you to step out of automatic thinking and broaden your strategic vision.—
Veronica Angela,
Forbes.com,
1 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
-
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson moves the ball up court against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
14 June 2026
-
McConnell regularly moves about the Capitol in a wheelchair, often with the assistance of staff.—
Eric McDaniel,
NPR,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Heat speeds up chemical reactions in wine, which can ruin the flavor.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 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
-
In all, our group passed eight freeways, two highways, and one river, twice.—
Pedro Moura,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drives. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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