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.
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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.
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Recent Examples of motivating
ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
LeVota also cited campaign finance as a factor motivating his exit from the race.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
Bravo is fortunate he’s seen Dodger broadcasts mentioning Koufax at the stadium and on TV, motivating him to learn more, which led to seeing his windup on YouTube.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Republicans, for instance, may try to paint Democrats as obstructionist, potentially motivating a voter backlash against the Democratic Party in the midterm elections.
—The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
Values act as both a compass and a driving force, pointing you toward the right goals and motivating you to pursue them.
—Harvard Business Review, 22 Apr. 2026
To an uncritical eye, the messages might have seemed like a harmless attempt at motivating a team.
—Hettie O'Brien, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
His positivity is an asset in motivating others, even as practicality motivates him.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Motivated Mars activates your 6th House of Well-being as of today, motivating you to reconfigure routines and direct your formidable focus toward the tasks that truly count.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
For some among the new generation of answering their country's call to arms, a bitter lesson from Dutch history is motivating them.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
LeVota also cited campaign finance as a factor motivating his exit from the race.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
Bravo is fortunate he’s seen Dodger broadcasts mentioning Koufax at the stadium and on TV, motivating him to learn more, which led to seeing his windup on YouTube.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Republicans, for instance, may try to paint Democrats as obstructionist, potentially motivating a voter backlash against the Democratic Party in the midterm elections.
—The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026
Values act as both a compass and a driving force, pointing you toward the right goals and motivating you to pursue them.
—Harvard Business Review, 22 Apr. 2026
To an uncritical eye, the messages might have seemed like a harmless attempt at motivating a team.
—Hettie O'Brien, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
His positivity is an asset in motivating others, even as practicality motivates him.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
Motivated Mars activates your 6th House of Well-being as of today, motivating you to reconfigure routines and direct your formidable focus toward the tasks that truly count.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivating
Adjective
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The coaches’ office is no bigger than a janitor’s closet, but the yellow brick walls are lined with championship pictures, motivational quotes, magazine covers of female athletes, soccer star Hope Solo, and accomplishments of each coach.—
PJ Green
April 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
-
That is not motivational optimism.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Moon in Sagittarius activates your 3rd House of Communication, encouraging direct expression and clearer exchanges.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
And the petition would need to name the private entity’s president, director or other corporate officer as the preferred guardian, rather than a business name, with the goal of encouraging more personal responsibility.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Things quickly changed, however, as Orlando’s defense stopped forcing turnovers and its offense came to a halt.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The staff union picketed outside the SAG-AFTRA building, where those negotiations were held for the first two weeks, blocking entrances to the parking garage and forcing negotiators to cross a picket line to get inside.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That’s what made his performance last night so inspiring.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
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But even more inspiring was their determination to overcome enormous losses and difficulties to try to make new lives for themselves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their 2022 Pinot Noir has enticing aromas of cherry cola, cinnamon, and red raspberry that lead to delicious flavors of cherry, raspberry, cranberry, and brown baking spices.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
1 May 2026
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On Friday, he was charged in Wareham District Court with witness intimidation and enticing a child under 16.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Criminals develop fake friendships or romantic relationships with victims over time, eventually persuading them to deposit funds into bogus cryptocurrency investment platforms.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Elections become less about persuading voters and more about configuring the electorate.—
Dan Daley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Desires run deep on April 28, as Venus in Gemini meets with Pluto in Aquarius, creating one of the most magnetic and intellectually stimulating trines of the season.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
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Key Takeaways Eating a small handful of arugula before meals may gently support digestion by stimulating digestive enzymes, stomach acid, and bile.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivating. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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