as in incentives
something that arouses action or activity
fear of failing should be plenty of motivation to study for the test
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of motivations
Well, this is not a normal guy with normal motivations.
—
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
However, others were more sympathetic to Trump’s motivations.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Protest-goers told the Idaho Statesman about a variety of motivations for showing up, mostly covering civil liberties — rights for immigrants, women and transgender people — and Trump’s authoritarian actions.
—Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2025
Perhaps more important will be the exploration of the location's past and Robert House's initial motivations.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2025
The motivations were not primarily environmental.
—Alex Wang, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The team seeks to understand the motivations, contexts, and constraints that shape human actions.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
There’s footage of Scorsese prepping a couple of gigantic cork boards and directing scenes, but no real discussion of his motivations for tackling the film.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
To wit, at times the camera tracks Hedda’s movements in long, unbroken takes as if engaged in an endless, ongoing search for her motivations—and interiority.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
However, others were more sympathetic to Trump’s motivations.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Protest-goers told the Idaho Statesman about a variety of motivations for showing up, mostly covering civil liberties — rights for immigrants, women and transgender people — and Trump’s authoritarian actions.
—Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2025
Perhaps more important will be the exploration of the location's past and Robert House's initial motivations.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2025
The motivations were not primarily environmental.
—Alex Wang, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
The team seeks to understand the motivations, contexts, and constraints that shape human actions.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
There’s footage of Scorsese prepping a couple of gigantic cork boards and directing scenes, but no real discussion of his motivations for tackling the film.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
To wit, at times the camera tracks Hedda’s movements in long, unbroken takes as if engaged in an endless, ongoing search for her motivations—and interiority.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivations
Noun
-
This has raised questions about whether the huge tax incentives and infrastructure investments these sites demand from state and municipal governments (such as power stations, transmission lines, water supply upgrades, and roads) will pay off for local communities.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
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The report also describes incentives for landlords to make energy efficiency upgrades, citing a model in Atlanta targeted at landlords who accept rental assistance vouchers.—
Connor Giffin,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Hints, counsels, warnings, remonstrations, even encouragements are, in the end, of limited value.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
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Ward and Curlee also started the app Counterbalance, which provides daily encouragements, recipes, community and more.—
Emy LaCroix,
People.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motivations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivations. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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