as in inspirational
serving or likely to arouse action or activity
A poster with a motivational message was hung above the water cooler. The conference will feature talks by some well-known motivational speakers.
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Recent Examples of motivational
The thesis of Brady’s commencement, though, was battling through adversity and never quitting, and the best way for Brady to tell his motivational message was by telling the story of his Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons.
—
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
That was the motivational cycle.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 15 May 2026
The fake newspaper, which is changed out for each of her training trips to Vegas from her family farm in Riverside County, California, is a simple motivational device.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Farley played motivational speaker Matt Foley — who memorably lived in a van down by the river.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Their earliest and biggest target has been Dax, a 32-year-old janitor-turned-rapper from Canada who spits overwrought motivational lyrics over rudimentary beats.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
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
Senior pitcher/second baseman Ellie Peck, a Lewis recruit who reached base three times and scored three runs, confirmed that Kuefler’s motivational ploy seems to be working.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
That was the motivational cycle.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 15 May 2026
The fake newspaper, which is changed out for each of her training trips to Vegas from her family farm in Riverside County, California, is a simple motivational device.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Farley played motivational speaker Matt Foley — who memorably lived in a van down by the river.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Their earliest and biggest target has been Dax, a 32-year-old janitor-turned-rapper from Canada who spits overwrought motivational lyrics over rudimentary beats.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
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
Senior pitcher/second baseman Ellie Peck, a Lewis recruit who reached base three times and scored three runs, confirmed that Kuefler’s motivational ploy seems to be working.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivational
Adjective
-
Ruing the absence of a talisman, an inspirational figure who can bend a game to their will.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
But the congregation itself pre-dates the inspirational glass.—
Dana Kozlov,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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The stories featured in this documentary are emotional and inspiring.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
The emergence of Dorion as a serious contender for the top job last week, and the organization immediately seeming to fold in the face of significant public outcry and criticism, wasn’t exactly confidence-inspiring.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motivational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivational. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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