as in diligent
having a strong desire for personal advancement
He was lauded by faculty as an exceptionally hardworking, curious, and motivated student. The company was looking for motivated self-starters to fill the sales position.
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as in encouraged
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motivated
Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 June 2026
Safadi, who has directed a number of huge Brazilian productions, said he was motivated to shoot the actual soccer scenes in a realistic way.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 June 2026
Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Maybe the Patriots get a similar bump from Brown, who will absolutely be motivated to prove himself once again.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivated
Adjective
This politically motivated lawsuit seeks to block a transaction that will increase investment, expand output and strengthen competition.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 June 2026
Safadi, who has directed a number of huge Brazilian productions, said he was motivated to shoot the actual soccer scenes in a realistic way.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 June 2026
Verb
But the director insists the choice wasn't motivated by a desire to put a new spin on a classic.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Maybe the Patriots get a similar bump from Brown, who will absolutely be motivated to prove himself once again.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivated
Adjective
-
There’s yet another reason to be diligent with your daily SPF.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
14 May 2026
-
In the end, after a monthslong investigation and diligent forensic work, partial remains of 70 of the 110 victims were identified and returned to family members who, to this day, carry the pain of that day in 1996.—
Hank Tester,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Anyone walking past the mini gallery is encouraged to take what speaks to them, and to even drop off bits of their own work.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2026
-
Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Platini had star quality, but Infantino was an energetic administrator with a noticeable gift for languages.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
We were joined by İsmet Öztanık, the energetic third-generation hotelier behind the Avantgarde Refined brand, which also includes a sister Bodrum property alongside the family’s larger Avantgarde Collection portfolio.—
Anya von Bremzen,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The charging documents showed that Lunn restrained the victim in a bear hug, pinning her arms to her sides, and forced her to the ground behind a quad bench in an overgrown garden area.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
The disparity has forced Goldman into the awkward position of defending a seat he’s held for two terms by running, at least in part, as the outsider.—
Russell Berman,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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But is this really a viable check on a determined president willing to fire and replace anyone standing in his or her way?—
Steven Andreasen,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
-
Despite these obstacles, single women are determined to achieve their goal of homeownership and continue to be a driving force in the market.—
Kathy Collins,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
Verb
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That’s because people could be persuaded to sell shares off to wealthy investors for a quicker payout, rather than holding on to them and letting their wealth compound.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Amanda defended Cady when he was charged with the murder of his wife and unborn child, and ultimately persuaded him to take a plea deal.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Winona Fighter quickly made a name for itself with its dynamic live shows and DIY spirit, which attract large crowds and have drawn the attention of the Summer School founders.—
Charlie Vargas,
Daily News,
4 June 2026
-
Around him, Porte’s drums and Martyn’s synths and effects drift and glide; the repetitive structure is reminiscent of club music, but the perpetual slippage signals more dynamic ways of moving.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
More Arsenal fans have searched for the shirt since the parade, with 55 bought from Etsy in the 24 hours after the parade, but the reference is what enticed buyers pre-title win.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
Anthropic’s advances in coding and cybersecurity capabilities have rattled markets and also enticed new business customers.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motivated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivated. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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