as in movements
the act or an instance of changing position
we were instructed not to make any sudden motions or we might scare away the deer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in waves
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
the referee motioned the team captains to confer with him on the sideline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motions
Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 4 June 2026
Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Through her motions, Karen Read's legal team gained access to the texts too and they were released in Read's civil lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police.
—Louisa Moller, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The plaintiffs plan to respond to Paramount’s motions later this month.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 June 2026
Sanchez, meanwhile, filed multiple motions seeking to have time with his children again.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026
The decision followed two hours of debate and multiple failed motions — including a proposal to lower police raises — as leaders attempted to balance equity concerns with budget constraints.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
Arellano allegedly made throwing motions with a knife in his hand in the direction of officers and family members.
—Kendrick Calfee
june 2, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
That process will likely include scheduling hearings, revisiting pretrial motions, handling evidence disagreements and setting a possible new trial date.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Cosby’s attorneys filed motions for a new trial or a judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
—City News Service, Daily News, 31 May 2026
Noun
Initially, the team was studying the motions of stars within the globular cluster using data from both Euclid and the Hubble Space Telescope.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 4 June 2026
Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Through her motions, Karen Read's legal team gained access to the texts too and they were released in Read's civil lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police.
—Louisa Moller, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The plaintiffs plan to respond to Paramount’s motions later this month.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 June 2026
Sanchez, meanwhile, filed multiple motions seeking to have time with his children again.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026
The decision followed two hours of debate and multiple failed motions — including a proposal to lower police raises — as leaders attempted to balance equity concerns with budget constraints.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
Arellano allegedly made throwing motions with a knife in his hand in the direction of officers and family members.
—Kendrick Calfee
june 2, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2026
That process will likely include scheduling hearings, revisiting pretrial motions, handling evidence disagreements and setting a possible new trial date.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Cosby’s attorneys filed motions for a new trial or a judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
—City News Service, Daily News, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motions
Noun
-
Whatever the account, these are poems that have not simply endured time, but have mastered it, capturing it in their movements, their tides.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
And its use of initiatives to restrict immigration has served as an inspiration to right-wing movements in Europe.—
Jessi Jezewska Stevens,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves up to 10 feet were possible on some coasts of the Philippines.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
Reid waves a paperback around before tossing it behind his back.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
In replacing Bowman as GM during the 1986-87 season, Meehan oversaw numerous franchise-changing moves, including Mogilny’s defection from the Soviet Union in 1989.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
-
One of the more notable recent moves involved left-hander Eric Lauer, who arrived in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays after voicing some displeasure with how the team was utilizing him in the beginning of the season.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Health care executive Rick Jackson gestures to a supporter while qualifying to run for governor at the Georgia state Capitol last month.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While researchers are still studying whether those changes ultimately lead to long-term academic gains, many school leaders say the cultural shifts alone have made the policies worthwhile.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
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On Monday morning, 10,000 to 15,000 ballots were processed by lunchtime, with San Mateo's two shifts of workers keeping the operation running about 16 hours per day.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motions. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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