as in encourages
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 motivates
What motivates your entrepreneurial drive today?
—
Shelby Stewart, Essence, 29 Sep. 2025
That gives me a great sense of satisfaction, keeps me mentally and physically active, and motivates me to keep on keeping on.
—Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
This figure motivates Butrich but also overwhelms her.
—Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
My love for love and support from the people around me [motivates me].
—Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
And Thomas said CNIOs need to speak the language and understand what motivates the staff.
—Lauren Giella
claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Whatever motivates these acts, the fault and the responsibility lie with the perpetrator.
—ABC News, 14 Sep. 2025
The film is based on the 1963 Akira Kurosawa film High and Low, which centers on an executive whose sleek, modern home at the top of a bluff in Yokohama is such a contrast to the slums below that its architecture motivates the film’s central crime.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 4 Sep. 2025
At 78 years old and with so many achievements in your life, what motivates you to keep working?
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2025
Shelby Stewart, Essence, 29 Sep. 2025
That gives me a great sense of satisfaction, keeps me mentally and physically active, and motivates me to keep on keeping on.
—Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
This figure motivates Butrich but also overwhelms her.
—Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
My love for love and support from the people around me [motivates me].
—Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
And Thomas said CNIOs need to speak the language and understand what motivates the staff.
—Lauren Giella
claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Whatever motivates these acts, the fault and the responsibility lie with the perpetrator.
—ABC News, 14 Sep. 2025
The film is based on the 1963 Akira Kurosawa film High and Low, which centers on an executive whose sleek, modern home at the top of a bluff in Yokohama is such a contrast to the slums below that its architecture motivates the film’s central crime.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 4 Sep. 2025
At 78 years old and with so many achievements in your life, what motivates you to keep working?
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivates
Verb
-
Avoid over feeding plants, which encourages foliage to grow at the expense of blooms.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Guadagnino encourages our doubts, shooting Maggie in exaggerated horror-movie closeups set to the doomy bass notes and shrieking winds of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With showy wine-red blossoms that perfume the garden with the distinctive aromas of chocolate and vanilla from mid-summer through fall, chocolate cosmos entices butterflies and curious gardeners alike.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The structure is illustrated below, with one player positioned on the byline and another level with the penalty area to form a triangle that entices opponents out to defend.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
So that forces us to be more advanced in dealing with [risks that are considered long-tail] in the US.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The agent then grabs Moreta-Galarza and forces her several feet down the hallway and into a wall.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The poet titillates, commands by images—and only thus persuades.—
Elaine L. Wang
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Cherry persuades Harriet to publicly expose Laura, to talk to journalists and manufacture a viral story.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What inspires you to make music these days?—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Take a trip back in time and see how Ali still inspires Louisville 50 years later.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The caffeine in coffee stimulates the nervous system.—
Team Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Connie and Tristan are testing a new drug that stimulates the feel-good dopamine receptors in the brain.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Peralta induces groundballs at a higher rate (61%) than all but six other qualifying relievers.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Sep. 2025
-
At one point, his inner monologue nearly induces him to reach out to pet a co-worker, David, in the middle of their conversation.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Every action provokes a reaction.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
After a sleepy start to the second half at Old Trafford, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, and the relocation of Cunha into a deeper position, provokes a fresh wave of interest.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motivates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivates. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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