MOTIVATED Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

motivated 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of motivated

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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motivated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of motivate

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of motivated

Adjective

Investigators say the 78-year-old former lawmaker and reality TV figure suffered serious injuries around midday Wednesday; the case is not being treated as terrorism or politically motivated. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 Platner previously denied Fifield’s allegations of physical misconduct and accused her of being politically motivated (Fifield has worked for Republican campaigns). — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 9 July 2026

Verb

They are motivated through a combination of security, belonging, competence, autonomy, fairness and purpose. — Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Is the public motivated sufficiently to rise peacefully and demand changes? — Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for motivated

Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivated

Adjective

On a team where the diligent workers quietly carry the load for the rest, volunteering a time-saving discovery is volunteering to carry even more work.

— Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Thoroughly washing and cleaning produce before eating, along with diligent hand hygiene, are key prevention methods.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026

Definition of diligent

Verb

During the pandemic boom, cheap money, soaring asset prices, and speculative demand encouraged galleries to expand rapidly—adding artists, opening new locations and building ever larger organizations.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026
As energy costs and demand continue to rise and the potential for significantly lower tax revenues looms, local governments need to understand that clean energy is not banned in Florida but is encouraged by state statutes.

— Alan Byrd, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Definition of encouraged

Adjective

Even small toe-taps or a light head bob accompanies the least energetic.

— Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
Adrian, creative and energetic from childhood on—and raised in the presence of movie cameras—became a filmmaker himself, fusing a passion for extreme skiing with his cinematic sensibility.

— Marina Harss, New Yorker, 10 July 2026

Definition of energetic

Verb

Crew members of a container vessel reported damaged near the Strait of Hormuz were forced to abandon ship, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center said in a separate statement.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
In his view, that defiance forced the GOP to take extreme measures and go it alone.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 12 July 2026

Definition of forced

Adjective

Meanwhile, Machado remains determined to restart the push for free elections.

— John Otis, NPR, 16 July 2026
On the few occasions Mbappe was able to get into the box, the Real Madrid striker was swarmed by multiple defenders as Spain was determined to make anybody else defeat them.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026

Definition of determined

Verb

Four lobbyists who persuaded their clients to pay tour expenses, but did not report them, now face misdemeanor violations of the gift ban.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
These alerts were what had persuaded Roschelle to buy an Alexa when her daughters were five and six.

— Jessica Contrera, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Definition of persuaded

Adjective

That dynamic, extrapolated across the rising local cost of essential goods, has forced more Miami-Dade families than ever before into economic distress.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Unlike isolated gym exercises, soccer naturally integrates these elements in a dynamic and enjoyable environment.

— Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of dynamic

Verb

West’s post-football potential was what enticed the Blackhawks to trade up to take the a 6-foot-6, 216-pounder.

— Scott Powers, New York Times, 13 July 2026
That subscription data, entertainment, and safety service offers complementary base services, but owners are enticed to upgrade for premium services.

— Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Definition of enticed

Browse Nearby Words

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Style

“Motivated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivated. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of motivated

adjective

verb

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