as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity
fear of failing should be plenty of motivation to study for the test
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motivation
Those scarring years as a scholar and apprentice at Norwich are part of the motivation behind Mitchell’s new venture, Edge Futures.
—
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
But some of his past guests were more honest about their motivations.
—CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Like Boasberg, other judges will question the government’s potential political motivations in pursuing the Fed investigation, said Jeffrey Bellin, a law professor at Vanderbilt University.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
On top of all that, this is a team not lacking in internal motivation.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
But some of his past guests were more honest about their motivations.
—CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Like Boasberg, other judges will question the government’s potential political motivations in pursuing the Fed investigation, said Jeffrey Bellin, a law professor at Vanderbilt University.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
On top of all that, this is a team not lacking in internal motivation.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivation
Noun
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The core problem, attorney fee incentives, was left untouched.—
Tom Manzo,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
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The incentive structure is based on multiples of five cases from the Criminal Trial Support Unit’s unassigned defendants’ list, where bar advocates can take on five, 10, or 15 such cases for a possible maximum of $7,500 in incentive bonuses — 15 cases at $500 each.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with a noted socialist streak, has proposed a tax increase on New Yorkers making more than $1 million, which critics have cited as the impetus for New York’s wealthiest fleeing the state, and taking their money (and tax revenue) with them.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
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The impetus was the death of [Fela Kuti drummer] Tony Allen at the very beginning of COVID.—
Jonathan Cohen,
SPIN,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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February 19 – March 20 Soft encouragement wraps around your rough edges.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
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Dozens of friends and supporters held a march for peace near the Coral Springs Museum of Art, gathering with words of encouragement and calls to condemn the violence.—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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To check whether progesterone was the trigger, the researchers removed the female from the barrier tank and replaced her with conical plastic tubes coated with various chemical stimuli, sliding them into the small holes of the wall divider.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
2 Apr. 2026
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In general, weight loss means less load on your bones, which reduces the stimulus to create new bone cells.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motivation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivation. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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