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

The couple, who are expecting, said their future daughter is a motivating factor in their decision to stand in line and vote. — Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026

Perhaps the biggest and most motivating truth is that prices are too damn high, which comes with the corollary that Trump has no one to blame for this but himself. — Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026

For this historic election, however, unchecked violent crime, home demolitions, chronic underfunding in their communities, West Bank unrest, and the war in Gaza are all motivating Arab voters. — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026

The 41-year-old and 25-year-old NBA stars have a history of training together, and James cited Maxey as one of the main factors motivating him to come to Philly. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026

That realization can be simultaneously motivating and alarming. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Skeptics of Proposition 40, the official name for the billionaire tax ballot measure, say that the measure could ultimately reduce tax revenue by motivating wealthy Californians to relocate and take their wealth with them. — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

There’s something motivating you that the rest of people right now just don’t understand. — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026

Determined, Teagan bulldozes her way through the boathouse, eventually becoming the team’s coxswain, the only non-rowing member who is tasked with steering, managing the race plan and motivating the rest of the team. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026