as in to encourage
to rouse to action or activity
The presence of treats motivated the dogs to obey their owner's commands. They drove a campaign to motivate voters to show up to the polls.
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Recent Examples of motivate
LeVota also cited campaign finance as a factor motivating his exit from the race.
—
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
According to prosecutors, police and hit squad members carried out dozens of murders at Duterte’s behest starting in 2011, motivated by the promise of money or to avoid becoming targets themselves.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
What motivated the shooting is still not clear.
—Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Active learning also allows students to follow their own curiosity, which motivates them to learn and remember concepts.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivate
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
According to prosecutors, police and hit squad members carried out dozens of murders at Duterte’s behest starting in 2011, motivated by the promise of money or to avoid becoming targets themselves.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
What motivated the shooting is still not clear.
—Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Active learning also allows students to follow their own curiosity, which motivates them to learn and remember concepts.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivate
Verb
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Meanwhile, today Uranus enters a part of your chart to stay for six years, encouraging impulsive vacations, surprising romance and unexpected children.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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The authors stress the need for a robust public domain for information and for IP to be fairly applied alongside the public domain in order to encourage economic growth and innovation.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Somehow the estate managed to persuade HBO to come to an amicable settlement.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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In the end, county officials were persuaded to act.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy botched an uncontested breakout pass, and Tage Thompson hounded Fraser Minten to force a turnover.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The resulting uproar forced the resignation of the chief Sinaloa prosecutor.—
Steve Fisher,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the choices will be enticing.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
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In addition to the immediate employment boost for tradespeople—including construction workers, electricians, and plumbers—local governments have been enticed by the impressive tax revenues on offer.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Every parent wants their child to succeed, but some parents, like Esther Wojcicki, are especially adept at inspiring greatness in their child.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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Fans of the Bulls will undoubtedly recognize a climactic moment in Running Point season two, but another subplot involving Waves’ captain, Marcus Winfield, and rising star, Dyson Gibbs, was surprisingly not inspired by one of the few blemishes of the Bulls’ 1990s dynasty.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Stock buybacks are a tool used by companies to reduce the amount of shares outstanding, which can stimulate prices, and also to signal confidence in the company’s strategic direction.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
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In Asia, reflexology trails made of stones, pebbles and grass are intended to stimulate acupressure points on the soles of the feet, a concept linked to traditional medical therapies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lorenzen induced three groundball double plays to get himself out of trouble.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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Wexler induced a groundball to second as the Cobras defense turned a double play to escape the jam.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivate. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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