Synonyms of motivating

motivating 1 of 2

adjective

as in motivational

serving or likely to arouse action or activity

The biggest motivating factor behind her decision to change jobs was the pay increase.

The positive feedback he received was very motivating.

Related Words

• motivational
• motivative
• inspiring
• inspirational
• exciting
• inducing
• triggering
• energizing
• activating
• vitalizing
• upsetting
• galvanizing
• quickening
• annoying
• aggravating
• maddening
• explosive
• irritating
• exasperating
• vexing
• bothersome
• irksome
• inflammatory
• enraging
• provoking
• vexatious
• stimulating
• angering
• provocative
• pesky
• incendiary
• galling
• inciting
• charged
• instigating
• edgy
• instigative
• piquing
• fiery

Dissimilar Words

• noninflammatory
• subduing

motivating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of motivate

as in encouraging

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.

Related Words

• encouraging
• forcing
• enticing
• persuading
• stimulating
• inspiring
• inducing
• provoking
• spurring
• exciting
• energizing
• driving
• inciting
• arousing
• moving
• stirring
• galvanizing
• bribing
• instigating
• activating
• propelling
• animating
• sparking
• vitalizing
• firing (up)
• luring
• impelling
• revving (up)
• seducing
• quickening
• setting off
• tempting
• keying (up)
• piquing
• impassioning
• alluring
• getting
• goading
• motiving
• pumping up
• triggering
• baiting
• beguiling
• igniting
• leading on
• inflaming
• fanning
• kindling
• fomenting
• aggravating
• abetting
• exasperating
• irritating
• fermenting
• annoying
• whipping (up)
• bothering
• raising
• vexing
• enraging
• upsetting
• angering
• maddening
• galling

Dissimilar Words

• calming
• soothing
• subduing
• appeasing
• tranquilizing
• pacifying
• placating
• mollifying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of motivating

Verb

What, then, is motivating the 41-year-old to don Portugal’s kit for his sixth and final World Cup this summer? — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026

Blorian said Sporting’s current last-place standing is motivating and a welcome challenge to bring the club back up. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

But one thing that can help is understanding what is (or isn’t) motivating other fans. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Mars activates your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, motivating you to tackle sensitive matters with courage and protect what truly matters. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026

Players felt that his first meeting went well, and that the message was delivered with a tone that was motivating, but also sensitive to Mendoza. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026

Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel sentiment was a motivating factor in Mamdani's election victory. — Mark Prussin, CBS News, 23 June 2026

But even as Chen played arguably her best game of her career on Wednesday, something extra might have been motivating the 24-year-old guard. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 18 June 2026

Whatever the complex reasons motivating presidential travel, the amount of time spent abroad would no doubt come as a shock to pre-twentieth-century Americans. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 16 June 2026