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
Trump and his administration have blamed the developments on vandals motivated by left-wing politics.
—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
At a recent meeting of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Chair Zack Wasserman decried the review and said it was likely motivated by politics, according to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle.
—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
The court did say the statute allows for constitutional claims but that the argument that the termination was racially motivated, and a violation of the Equal Protection Claim, was unlikely to succeed.
—
Vera Lucia Pappaterra,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
The venture was motivated by the dramatic growth of microdramas, which are estimated by industry analyst Omdia to have generated $11 billion in revenue in 2025.
—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivate
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
At a recent meeting of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Chair Zack Wasserman decried the review and said it was likely motivated by politics, according to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle.
—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
The court did say the statute allows for constitutional claims but that the argument that the termination was racially motivated, and a violation of the Equal Protection Claim, was unlikely to succeed.
—
Vera Lucia Pappaterra,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
The venture was motivated by the dramatic growth of microdramas, which are estimated by industry analyst Omdia to have generated $11 billion in revenue in 2025.
—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivate
Verb
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Rissetto encourages her patients to cut back on alcoholic beverages.
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Israel has historically negotiated with Palestinian militant groups to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners and detainees even as critics warned the practice could encourage more kidnappings.
Verb
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But by that point, the banks were so overwhelmed that they could, at least in theory, be persuaded to settle for far less than they were owed.
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Contributors know Percy’s films often become the defining accounts of major events, which helps persuade them to take part.
Verb
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Chisholm did not appear to go around and immediately erupted over the lack of an appeal, forcing Boone and first base coach Dan Fiorito to intervene.
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The competing corridors have left shippers confused, forcing vessels to navigate threats from sea mines, aerial drones and IRGC patrol boats.
Verb
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Obviously, Donnie being over there was enticing to me.
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For American diners of diverse backgrounds, chop suey struck an enticing balance between novelty and decipherability, which propelled it to national popularity even as the US government moved to exclude Chinese laborers from entering the country in 1882.
Verb
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Flip-flops inspired by Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Lopez are ideal for beach days and casual outings, while double-buckle sandals work for vacations, brunches, and everyday errands.
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Organizers encourage people across the region to attend, connect with local and national authors and celebrate the stories that continue to educate, inspire and leave a lasting impact.
Verb
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Inside, soy proteins repair and strengthen, copper peptides stimulate keratin production–aka the protein that fortifies and minimizes frizz–and pro-B vitamins amplify fullness.
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Deadheading spent blooms will stimulate the plant to produce more flowers.
Verb
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Kaplan's research team put a rash-inducing irritant on the ears of mice.
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Three practices drawn from surgery and the leadership experiences of executives who’ve applied them illuminate how the best decision-makers paradoxically reduce uncertainty by inducing it.
Cite this Entry
“Motivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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