as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity
fear of failing should be plenty of motivation to study for the test
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of motivation
The song sounds exactly like that, pure motivation and calm ruthlessness in three verses.
—
Pitchfork, 6 June 2025
What was your creative inspiration or your motivations behind that one?
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 6 June 2025
The Cambridge research team analyzed over 100 murders from texts, translated from Latin, from that period, and used a coding method to separate the deaths into different categories, including time (day, week, month), motivation, weapon used, victim, and location.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 5 June 2025
Panther mania The Dolphins are afforded a certain degree of motivation from being in South Florida for a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final run for the Florida Panthers.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Pitchfork, 6 June 2025
What was your creative inspiration or your motivations behind that one?
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 6 June 2025
The Cambridge research team analyzed over 100 murders from texts, translated from Latin, from that period, and used a coding method to separate the deaths into different categories, including time (day, week, month), motivation, weapon used, victim, and location.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 5 June 2025
Panther mania The Dolphins are afforded a certain degree of motivation from being in South Florida for a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final run for the Florida Panthers.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivation
Noun
-
The Biden administration sought to encourage manufacturers to build in the United States, but those efforts are still in their early stages, and many of the government incentives are now on the chopping block.—
Dan Gearino,
Wired News,
31 May 2025
-
Margin Pressures Persist Due to the high interest and mortgage rates, many homebuilders have increased incentives and rate buydowns, which negatively impact margins.—
David Trainer,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
The church declined an interview and did not respond to specific questions about the impetus for the change.—
Lauren Jackson,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
-
The immigration issue was Worsley’s impetus to enter politics.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
While this is good news, student loan borrowers should remember this drop shouldn't be taken as encouragement to acquire more student debt at lower rates.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
-
Kelly had posted several photos on social media while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as insurrectionists injured police officers and destroyed Capitol property with prior encouragement from President Donald Trump at a rally.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
The 2021 Biden stimulus bill provided additional financial incentives to the holdout states.—
The Editors,
National Review,
5 June 2025
-
Consider stimulus like background noise, scent from air fresheners and perfumes, family members all calling the puppy at once etc.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motivation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivation. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share