Synonyms of motivate

motivate

verb

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.

Related Words

• encourage
• persuade
• force
• entice
• inspire
• stimulate
• induce
• provoke
• spur
• incite
• excite
• energize
• drive
• arouse
• galvanize
• instigate
• propel
• activate
• move
• motive
• bribe
• stir
• spark
• fire (up)
• rev (up)
• lure
• impel
• animate
• vitalize
• set off
• seduce
• pique
• quicken
• tempt
• impassion
• key (up)
• pump up
• beguile
• goad
• get
• ignite
• lead on
• trigger
• bait
• allure
• inflame
• annoy
• foment
• kindle
• aggravate
• abet
• irritate
• whip (up)
• fan
• exasperate
• raise
• ferment
• bother
• anger
• vex
• enrage
• upset
• gall
• madden

Dissimilar Words

• calm
• subdue
• soothe
• appease
• placate
• pacify
• tranquilize
• mollify

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of motivate

Baker has also been around Antetokounmpo long enough to know that Antetokounmpo is motivated entering his first season with the Heat. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

Monnier said family offices might be motivated to hold onto liquid but inflation-sensitive assets in order to maintain flexibility to invest later or as a defensive play. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

In Quadlin and Rudel’s article, a student might become interested in the idea of student debt as either a responsibility that motivates them or a liability that constrains them. — Saurabh Anand, JSTOR Daily, 24 Sep. 2026

In Australia, a mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in 2025, in which two men are accused of killing 15 Jewish people, was motivated by the shooters' IS affiliations, the authorities allege. — ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026