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
Hugh Leask, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
That curiosity still drives him today.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Chargers can be scarce and overcrowded at peak demand times (which drives up the cost of sessions).
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
For Tomeka Hairston, who drives on the Parkway East almost daily, there's barely a day when the commute is smooth.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
But for someone who’s gone from Liberty University to the NFL, there’s no questioning what ultimately drives him.
—Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
The price spike will challenge the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve and could slow consumer spending, which drives two-thirds of the nation’s economic growth.
—Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
These stones aren’t expensive but this drives me crazy.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
The current scale of fossil-fuel burning is also disrupting entire Earth-system functions, which in turn drives fuel demand (as people try to stay warm or cool) and exacerbates the kind of extreme weather that can destroy communities and transform ecosystems.
—Meera Subramanian, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
The guides specialize in different areas (Zwa is a leopard expert, while Moses is a local healer well versed in medicinal plants) and readily share their knowledge on hikes and game drives.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Mar. 2026
The anticipated battery percentage at the final destination went up, not down, during four drives that were longer than an hour, regardless of speed.
—Adam L. Neal, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The drives also deliver faster performance.
—Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
It is used for long-term storage in products such as solid-state drives (SSDs) and USB drives.
—Ian King, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
Over the last several years, technology in ion propulsion drives has increased exponentially, shortening a potential trip from years to months.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026
The central role of Nanno – an enigmatic transfer student whose uncanny insight into the moral failings of those around her drives each episode’s reckoning – is taken by 20-year-old Nakajima Arisa in her screen debut.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
Spring break for Fort Worth families doesn’t have to mean long drives or pricey day trips.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
The energy price shock that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine four years ago is fresh in the minds of European policymakers as the conflict in Iran once again drives oil and gas prices higher.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
That curiosity still drives him today.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Chargers can be scarce and overcrowded at peak demand times (which drives up the cost of sessions).
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
For Tomeka Hairston, who drives on the Parkway East almost daily, there's barely a day when the commute is smooth.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
But for someone who’s gone from Liberty University to the NFL, there’s no questioning what ultimately drives him.
—Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
The price spike will challenge the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve and could slow consumer spending, which drives two-thirds of the nation’s economic growth.
—Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
These stones aren’t expensive but this drives me crazy.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
The current scale of fossil-fuel burning is also disrupting entire Earth-system functions, which in turn drives fuel demand (as people try to stay warm or cool) and exacerbates the kind of extreme weather that can destroy communities and transform ecosystems.
—Meera Subramanian, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
Buzelis pounced on straight-line drives when defenders flew at him on the perimeter, then stepped behind screens to pull 3-point shots.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
The guides specialize in different areas (Zwa is a leopard expert, while Moses is a local healer well versed in medicinal plants) and readily share their knowledge on hikes and game drives.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Mar. 2026
The anticipated battery percentage at the final destination went up, not down, during four drives that were longer than an hour, regardless of speed.
—Adam L. Neal, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
The drives also deliver faster performance.
—Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
It is used for long-term storage in products such as solid-state drives (SSDs) and USB drives.
—Ian King, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
Over the last several years, technology in ion propulsion drives has increased exponentially, shortening a potential trip from years to months.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026
The central role of Nanno – an enigmatic transfer student whose uncanny insight into the moral failings of those around her drives each episode’s reckoning – is taken by 20-year-old Nakajima Arisa in her screen debut.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
Spring break for Fort Worth families doesn’t have to mean long drives or pricey day trips.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drives
Verb
-
Here’s a curtain-raiser on SXSW Music 2026, which runs from March 12-16 — with all of the different sub-festivals running concurrently, for the first time in the Austin gathering’s four-decade history.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The Lake Shore Limited is a 19-hour rail journey between New York City and Chicago that runs alongside Lake Michigan, the Mohawk River, and the Erie Canal.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Panama’s Jonathan Araúz exchanged shouts and pushes with manager José Mayorga when the pinch hitter returned to the dugout after grounding out leading off the ninth.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Overnight line of storms with damaging winds A second chance for severe storms comes later Tuesday as a cold front pushes through the region, likely bringing a line of storms with damaging winds and heavy rain, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Personality is now a big part of what compels buyers to choose a home; agents increasingly hear buyers asking for character and uniqueness over recent design styles.—
Mary Grace Granados
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The music alone of this collection is a pleasure, but the voice compels.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Venus and Pluto’s connection activates the friends-to-lovers pipeline.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike most opioids, buprenorphine only partially activates opioid receptors, providing enough stimulation to prevent withdrawal and cravings while not causing euphoria.—
Rachel French,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the train moves through the Hudson Valley and up toward the Canadian border, riverfront towns give way to wide expanses of water and distant mountain peaks.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The bodywork also moves now — the wings literally adjust as the car moves around the track, which sounds made up but isn’t.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This prevents smells, reduces the risk of pests, and speeds up breakdown when burying the peels.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
-
That came as Xi’s purge of China’s military widened — including the removal of nine military officers from the congress last week — as China speeds up its goals of modernizing its army in the coming few years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This is especially true when traveling long distances away from expressways and major highways, where fast Tesla Superchargers are now common.—
Adam L. Neal,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Over time, the state also built a huge transportation and logistics sector, driven by its highways, railroads and airports for both cargo and passengers.—
Wilborn P. Nobles III,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
However, the document later says that the fundraising figures also includes large donations that campaigns are required to immediately report.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The system provides tools to plan, execute, and analyze information campaigns while incorporating compliance and oversight mechanisms.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drives. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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