Synonyms of moves

moves 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of move

1

as in relocates

to change the place or position of

I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relocates
• shifts
• removes
• transfers
• transports
• disturbs
• transposes
• displaces
• conveys
• replaces
• carries
• repositions
• hauls
• dislocates
• budges
• drives
• transmits
• transplants
• modifies
• alters
• supersedes
• supplants
• carts
• revises
• lugs
• varies
• reworks
• totes
• bears
• remakes
• makes over
• remodels
• redoes
• revamps
• refashions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sets
• freezes
• stabilizes
• secures
• fixes
• anchors
• roots
• embeds
• lodges
• moors
• implants
• entrenches
• ingrains

2

as in drives

to set or keep in motion

the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drives
• activates
• propels
• works
• actuates
• impels
• stimulates
• triggers
• raises
• provokes
• motivates
• stirs (up)
• incites
• sets off
• trips
• ferments
• inspires
• whips (up)
• excites
• rouses
• fires (up)
• foments
• arouses
• abets
• galvanizes
• instigates
• inflames

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• controls
• contains
• checks
• regulates
• restrains
• curbs
• inhibits
• constrains
• reins (in)
• bridles

3

as in shifts

to change one's position

don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shifts
• stirs
• squirms
• twitches
• wiggles
• fidgets
• locomotes
• jiggles
• budges
• tosses
• writhes
• wriggles
• fiddles
• rouses
• squiggles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• freezes
• remains
• stays
• stills
• hangs around
• stabilizes
• sticks around
• tarries

4

as in influences

to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response

we were deeply moved by the program of patriotic music

Synonyms & Similar Words

• influences
• affects
• impresses
• impacts
• touches
• strikes
• reaches
• sways
• inspires
• involves
• tells (on)
• interests
• gets to
• bothers
• penetrates
• attracts
• stirs
• dazzles
• disturbs
• fascinates
• concerns
• engages
• tries
• carries away
• transports
• troubles
• entrances
• worries
• colors
• plagues
• upsets
• biases
• stresses
• pierces
• harasses
• enchants
• afflicts
• perturbs
• enraptures
• ravishes
• enthralls
• smites
• captivates
• distresses
• agitates
• flusters
• charms
• disquiets
• pesters
• discomposes
• wrings
• harries
• bewitches
• strains
• discomforts
• allures

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bores
• wearies
• tires
• palls
• jades
• underwhelms

5

as in provokes

to rouse to strong feeling or action

the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provokes
• encourages
• stimulates
• stirs
• inspires
• motivates
• sparks
• arouses
• drives
• incites
• instigates
• excites
• motives
• induces
• fires (up)
• triggers
• revs (up)
• piques
• activates
• impassions
• ignites
• animates
• sets off
• builds a fire under
• galvanizes
• energizes
• fans
• quickens
• angers
• vitalizes
• gets
• bothers
• inflames
• raises
• pumps up
• enrages
• kindles
• teases
• upsets
• keys (up)
• foments
• ferments
• whips (up)
• taunts
• abets
• annoys
• aggravates
• maddens
• irritates
• exasperates
• jeers
• vexes
• galls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calms
• soothes
• subdues
• appeases
• tranquilizes
• placates
• pacifies
• mollifies

6

as in persuades

to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests

the report moved me to change my mind about the issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• persuades
• convinces
• brings
• satisfies
• gets
• induces
• urges
• gains
• argues
• wins (over)
• converts
• talks (into)
• prevails (on or upon)
• attracts
• brings around
• coaxes
• prompts
• lures
• seduces
• sells
• entices
• influences
• tempts
• sways
• cajoles
• exhorts
• entreats
• wheedles
• draws
• leads on
• discusses
• snows
• inclines
• blandishes
• interests
• beguiles
• allures
• debates
• fast-talks
• blarneys
• disputes
• converses
• overpersuades
• brainwashes
• hashes (over)
• reasons (with)
• chews over
• moots

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discourages
• deters
• dissuades
• unsells

7

as in activates

to cause to function

this one button moves the whole machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activates
• triggers
• sparks
• drives
• powers
• starts
• generates
• fuels
• sets off
• pushes
• runs
• actuates
• provokes
• ignites
• turns on
• touches off
• cranks (up)
• charges
• fires
• switches
• launches
• electrifies
• energizes
• stimulates
• releases
• turns over
• trips
• accelerates
• kicks over
• reactivates
• discharges
• stirs up
• recharges
• excites
• incites
• instigates
• arouses
• quickens
• steps up
• catalyzes
• speeds (up)
• vitalizes
• kick-starts
• jump-starts

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cuts
• kills
• stops
• turns off
• cuts out
• shuts off
• brakes
• checks
• arrests
• sticks
• stalls
• halts
• jams
• cuts off
• slows
• draws up
• deactivates
• suppresses
• represses
• decelerates
• stunts

8

as in exits

to leave a place often for another

the police officer told the loiterers to move along

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exits
• departs
• goes
• gets
• starts
• escapes
• flees
• evacuates
• parts
• quits
• flies
• walks out
• withdraws
• runs along
• bails
• pulls out
• gets off
• shoves (off)
• cuts out
• retires
• pushes off
• goes off
• digs out
• peels off
• packs (up or off)
• bails out
• beats it
• pushes on
• steps (along)
• books
• takes off
• skips
• retreats
• bugs off
• clears out
• clears off
• buzzes (off)
• emigrates
• sallies (forth)
• scarpers
• takes a hike
• buggers off
• sets out
• hits the road
• takes a powder
• bugs out
• pulls stakes
• vamooses
• strikes out
• abandons
• removes
• runs away
• pikes (out or off)
• vacates
• gets out
• absconds
• goes out
• steps out
• forsakes
• scats
• deserts
• lights out
• decamps
• mizzles
• scrams
• adjourns

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• comes
• arrives
• remains
• stays
• turns up
• shows up
• dwells
• settles
• approaches
• closes
• abides
• reaches
• lands
• hits
• nears
• lodges
• tarries

moves

2 of 2

noun

plural of move

1

as in means

an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result

retiring early was a smart move

Synonyms & Similar Words

• means
• measures
• steps
• shifts
• attempts
• efforts
• things
• resources
• actions
• acts
• tries
• goes
• activities
• procedures
• works
• initiatives
• dealings
• processes
• expedients
• feats
• proceedings
• doings
• operations
• projects
• proposals
• deeds
• passes
• successes
• coups
• events
• endeavors
• accomplishments
• triumphs
• enterprises
• cracks
• exploits
• courses
• achievements
• pains
• attainments
• exertions
• affairs
• undertakings
• countermoves
• propositions
• troubles
• stabs
• businesses
• flings
• countermeasures
• trials
• essays
• resorts
• whacks
• shots
• labors
• whiles
• countersteps
• makeshifts
• stopgaps

2

as in movements

the act or an instance of changing position

don't make a move

Synonyms & Similar Words

• movements
• shifts
• motions
• stirrings
• stirs
• relocations
• migrations
• squirms
• dislocations
• locomotions
• mobilities
• motivities
• motilities
• fiddlings

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stops
• pauses
• immobilities
• finishes
• inertias
• stoppages
• halts
• endings
• lapses
• terminations
• shutdowns
• discontinuances
• expirations
• cessations
• shutoffs
• surceases

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of moves

Verb

Pitch a idea for a team huddle, and let your expressive style set a cooperative tone that moves decisions forward. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026

The judge’s order paused the rollout of the surcharge on high-value second homes in the city while a lawsuit brought by a group of homeowners moves forward. — Katherine Koretski, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

The ruling pauses enforcement on the tax on second properties while a lawsuit brought by a group of homeowners moves forward. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

The same automation that makes care feel more personal also moves more data through more systems than ever before. — Brett White, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Pluto's atmosphere appears to be freezing out as the dwarf planet moves ever further away from the sun, according to careful observations of Pluto astronomers made as it was seen passing in front of stars in the sky. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026

The result moves the KARNO platform beyond standalone operation and gives Hyliion a foundation for larger multi-megawatt installations built from standardized modules. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026

The film moves horizontally instead of vertically, and a lot of people get thrown off by that. — Chris Stanton, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Every generation of technology moves us one step further away from machinery and one step closer to intent. — New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026

Noun

As for what comes next, Crowell said to keep an eye out for a few more business moves before the year is up. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 10 Aug. 2026

The team—engineers, policymakers, and operators—solves for that specific limit, and the boundary moves. — John Werner, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

The Carolina Panthers made three roster moves Sunday morning. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2026

The layoffs added to earlier downsizing by the software giant and moves by companies that include Amazon and Oracle to shed thousands of people in the last two years. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

And so the bond market moves are NOT just reflecting economic reality. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

While players still take batting practice like any other baseball team, Stancato holds rehearsals to perfect their dance moves, often drawing inspiration from what’s trending on TikTok and Instagram. — Chris Placek, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

At several points in their adventure, Olmo and Miguel break out their best dance moves. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

The moves suggest the White House was concerned a yen selloff could further push up US bond yields, which remain elevated, analysts said. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 2 Aug. 2026