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

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

Stay tuned to see how attendance and viewership are doing as the season moves forward. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

The total solar eclipse, in which the moon moves perfectly between the sun and Earth, effectively casting a shadow on Earth, will be one of the longest in several decades. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026

The new plan, unveiled earlier this month, moves warehouses north of her property in Manhattan. — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

Noun

Against that backdrop, its share-price moves have drawn intense scrutiny as investors and analysts look for signs that the initial enthusiasm was unjustified. — Alastair Marsh, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

The Pirates and Twins move up to Tier 4 with their modest moves. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

As speculation intensified around blockbuster moves — including the club's eventual acquisition of ace Tarik Skubal — the organization also quietly parted ways with a veteran left-hander who had provided emergency depth throughout the season. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

The trade is one of the most significant moves before the WNBA deadline on Sunday and could reshape the championship race. — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 2 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

Presti gave Jones the offer sheet after Oklahoma City had already executed several cost-cutting moves this offseason to duck the same threshold, which only one team (Cleveland) exceeded last season. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 27 July 2026

Since then, several unexpected moves have also rocked the city. — Dj Simmons july 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026

The many moves that Trump has made to remove environmental protections certainly have not helped the situation. — Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026