as in impetus
something that arouses action or activity
the former president's endorsement was all the momentum the campaign needed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of momentum
The initial mission of the collaboration, the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) will have visited the asteroids earlier and impacted Dimorphos with sufficient momentum to effect a measurable change in its orbit.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
These next two debates are high-stakes, not just to avoid a Biden performance, but to do something, anything, that fires up momentum.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Even as this agenda gains momentum, however, a critical blind spot is emerging.
—Eric J. Nestler, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026
Related Stories The festival has ultimately built momentum through relationships as much as programming.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for momentum
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
These next two debates are high-stakes, not just to avoid a Biden performance, but to do something, anything, that fires up momentum.
—Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Even as this agenda gains momentum, however, a critical blind spot is emerging.
—Eric J. Nestler, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026
Related Stories The festival has ultimately built momentum through relationships as much as programming.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for momentum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for momentum
Noun
-
The freebie was the likely impetus for the big increase in attendance, but Murakami’s slugging surely convinced some fans to come check out the scene on the South Side on a sunny but cool afternoon.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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After a brief interruption due to bad light, Josh Clarkson's late impetus guided New Zealand to a challenging total.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Grace Backian, director of the Northern Philippines Root Crops Research and Training Center, said that’s largely because there’s no financial incentive for farmers to plant more.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
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Most states have some sort of incentive in place to benefit EV buyers, including tax credits or rebates, or utility rate reductions, according to a 2023 report from the National Conference of State Legislators, a bipartisan nonprofit group for state legislators and their staff.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
In the aftermath, Pollard’s inbox filled with criticisms, encouragement and recommendations.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Arizona’s rapid low-density residential development sprawl is driven by its rabid encouragement of ever more population growth.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most Sunday mornings, Charles Woods doesn’t need much motivation for his weekly 40-mile bike ride.—
Isabel Rivera,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
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Asking a musician about their influences can elicit a boiler plate response revealing little about their mindset and motivations.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Beginning with the stimulus of a cup or two of strong coffee, fifteen-year-old Columbia College sophomore George Templeton Strong started a diary in 1835.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Apr. 2026
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The project aims to produce materials that change their mechanical properties and shape in response to external light stimuli.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Momentum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/momentum. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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