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
Her positive attitude is truly contagious, often serving as the catalyst that motivates her peers to engage more deeply with school initiatives.
—
Darla Rivera, Oklahoman, 19 Jan. 2026
This is part of what motivates him to keep buying back the block.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Investigators and Hall’s family hope the release of the photo sparks a memory or motivates someone with information to come forward.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Which motivates a lot of people to do bad things.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
Every type of gardening helps the environment, no matter what motivates you to garden.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Jan. 2026
After that, Jupiter in your sixth house of wellness until summer 2027 motivates you to bring more elevated athleisure into your regular rotation, as you’ll be more fired up to take steps to boost your vitality.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Many survivors say hope for the future is the one thing that motivates them.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The notion clearly motivates Cardenas, instilling in him a sense of fervor and urgency.
—James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Darla Rivera, Oklahoman, 19 Jan. 2026
This is part of what motivates him to keep buying back the block.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
Investigators and Hall’s family hope the release of the photo sparks a memory or motivates someone with information to come forward.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Which motivates a lot of people to do bad things.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
Every type of gardening helps the environment, no matter what motivates you to garden.
—Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Jan. 2026
After that, Jupiter in your sixth house of wellness until summer 2027 motivates you to bring more elevated athleisure into your regular rotation, as you’ll be more fired up to take steps to boost your vitality.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Many survivors say hope for the future is the one thing that motivates them.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The notion clearly motivates Cardenas, instilling in him a sense of fervor and urgency.
—James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivates
Verb
-
Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about great poetry—both classic and contemporary—through memorization, performance, and competition.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Mitchell encourages people to have enough of their meds for at least 36 hours to get through next Tuesday and Wednesday, and to anticipate the pharmacies will be closed at least on Sunday.—
Lauren Linder,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For example, a suet cake with mealworms attracts bluebirds, and adding fruit entices mockingbirds, says Stewart.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
16 Dec. 2025
-
While Summer most likely has tonnes of toys and a dog bed, there’s something about cardboard boxes that entices pets.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
That forces a different approach—one that focuses less on betting on a specific connector and more on giving guests flexible ways to power their own devices.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
And for Orlando itself, the process forces a long-overdue reckoning with how the city sees its future.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Capability alone no longer persuades buyers who now want proof of systems that work quietly in the background while results take the center stage.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Nuremberg explores how authoritarian regimes take over democracies — not by making a detailed intellectual case that persuades on its merits but by validating the power fantasies of those who feel shut out.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Part of the writer’s job—well, maybe all of it—is to leave behind a text that inspires feeling and debate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Artificial intelligence inspires both excitement and anxiety, and few people are as well equipped to separate signal from noise as Rajeev Kapur.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The viral beauty gadget stimulates collagen, boosts circulation, and leaves you with plump, youthful results.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Continuing to seek out mental and social challenges stimulates brain metabolism, neuroplasticity and vascular health, according to Efrati, who also serves as chair of the medical advisory board at Aviv Clinics, which operates in Florida and Tel Aviv.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Glazed in acrylic, the work induces a dualistic perception.—
James Meyer,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
-
The movement of the iron-rich liquid induces a magnetic field that covers the entire Earth.—
Scott Brame,
The Conversation,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Fogel is always looking for the visual angle that provokes an emotional response.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
22 Jan. 2026
-
This ends up being just one of Aemond’s defining moments, which further provokes war.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motivates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivates. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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