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
Boxing tempts him, the business world motivates him and his role as a promoter excites him.
—
Jorge Ebro
may 6, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Her determination to win the spirit's praise and to attain his immense gifts motivates her to achieve the ultimate dominant position.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
The color of passion and energy, red, motivates us to take action, yet it is also used to signal danger.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
Active learning also allows students to follow their own curiosity, which motivates them to learn and remember concepts.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
Amid all their attacks and counter-attacks, what motivates each aggrieved party comes to light, painting a rich, empathetic portrait of lives lived under immense pressure — and the illogical outlets that sometimes become our only means of relief.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Reflecting on what motivates continued engagement, Wilbur offers a perspective grounded in impact rather than immediacy.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Colorado’s quest for another Stanley Cup has led the Avs to trade away many prospects and draft picks, which both motivates the Avs to be aggressive in the UDFA market and makes the franchise an attractive landing spot, as evidenced by the success of some of their signings.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2026
Shaun’s content still motivates, but it is now complemented by morning cuddle photos.
—Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 2 Apr. 2026
Jorge Ebro
may 6, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Her determination to win the spirit's praise and to attain his immense gifts motivates her to achieve the ultimate dominant position.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
The color of passion and energy, red, motivates us to take action, yet it is also used to signal danger.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026
Active learning also allows students to follow their own curiosity, which motivates them to learn and remember concepts.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
Amid all their attacks and counter-attacks, what motivates each aggrieved party comes to light, painting a rich, empathetic portrait of lives lived under immense pressure — and the illogical outlets that sometimes become our only means of relief.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Reflecting on what motivates continued engagement, Wilbur offers a perspective grounded in impact rather than immediacy.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
Colorado’s quest for another Stanley Cup has led the Avs to trade away many prospects and draft picks, which both motivates the Avs to be aggressive in the UDFA market and makes the franchise an attractive landing spot, as evidenced by the success of some of their signings.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2026
Shaun’s content still motivates, but it is now complemented by morning cuddle photos.
—Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivates
Verb
-
Responding to comments, asking for feedback, and giving shout-outs to active viewers fosters a sense of community and encourages continued engagement.—
Adam Rumanek,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2026
-
The moon in Taurus encourages you to go with the flow and stop forcing an outcome.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The blue light entices mosquitos, gnats, flies, and fruit flies, luring them to their demise on an unforgiving sticky pad.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2026
-
Borage An annual herb with bright bluish-purple flowers, borage entices important insects to the garden.—
Lauren David,
Martha Stewart,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Experts have described the phenomenon as an invisible crisis with long-term humanitarian consequences — there are few official figures on the number of displaced people, who have almost no resources to turn to once violence forces them to leave.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
-
Fighting battery fires Lead-acid batteries still dominate nearly 90 percent of UPS backup systems globally, but their low power density often forces operators to install oversized battery banks to meet sudden power demand.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Its aggressive marketing strategy persuades users to buy a vast range of items at cheaper prices.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
-
Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
12 May 2026
-
What seemed like something to dread now actually inspires hope.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Lion’s mane stimulates nerve growth factor and neurogenesis, enhances memory, focus, clarity and mood, and chaga mushrooms can enhance physical performance, oxygen utilization and give an endurance boost.—
Ryan Brennan
May 6,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
-
Initially, coffee may cause a temporary increase in blood pressure because caffeine stimulates the nervous system.—
Kristen Gasnick,
Verywell Health,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
It is used in combination with a second drug misoprostol, which induces cramping.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
So there’s no excuse not to finalize this deal promptly regardless of whether that induces a hissy fit from United Here and the Chicago Federation of Labor.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
But the question of what is true or not is futile, even if Calle deliberately provokes this curiosity.—
Elisa Wouk Almino
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The flurry of imagery provokes a surreal sort of whiplash.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motivates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivates. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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