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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in drives
to set or keep in motion
the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shifts
to change one's position
don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in activates
to cause to function
this one button moves the whole machine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in exits
to leave a place often for another
the police officer told the loiterers to move along
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
retiring early was a smart move
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in movements
the act or an instance of changing position
don't make a move
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 moves
Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The all-new Habiton lives and sleeps larger than its footprint thanks an entire room that actually moves back and forth.
—New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025
Julian moves backward and forward in time, starting in the 2010s with the happy couple planning their wedding tour around the world and ending in a post-COVID world with Fleur alone, telling the story of her time with Julian.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Even a fraction of these numbers would reshape how value moves through the global economy.
—Sandy Peng, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
After his electrifying major league debut last Friday, Boston Red Sox top pitching prospect Payton Tolle will get another start on Friday in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, as part of a shakeup to the starting rotation as the season moves into its final month.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
This trade is the latest dealing in what has been a flurry of moves for the Eagles in the past month.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
In part because of moves like this, Dudek got reassigned within the agency several times.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
Those moves are out of our hands.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Cassidy has spoken out about some of Kennedy’s moves, including slashing funding for mRNA research.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
Signing former 49ers left guard Aaron Banks and former Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency to big-money deals appear to be decent moves so far.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2025
Political experts say the timing and tenor of the moves leave little doubt that Manatee’s growth-curbing agenda triggered the response.
—Josh Salman, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
The job market moves quickly, and preparation is your competitive advantage.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The all-new Habiton lives and sleeps larger than its footprint thanks an entire room that actually moves back and forth.
—New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025
Julian moves backward and forward in time, starting in the 2010s with the happy couple planning their wedding tour around the world and ending in a post-COVID world with Fleur alone, telling the story of her time with Julian.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Even a fraction of these numbers would reshape how value moves through the global economy.
—Sandy Peng, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
After his electrifying major league debut last Friday, Boston Red Sox top pitching prospect Payton Tolle will get another start on Friday in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, as part of a shakeup to the starting rotation as the season moves into its final month.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
Pace put different people through the paces of different things on different equipment and surfaces, ranging from some beginner movements to some rather acrobatic moves by a woman visiting from South Korea that looked a lot like gymnastics.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
This trade is the latest dealing in what has been a flurry of moves for the Eagles in the past month.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
In part because of moves like this, Dudek got reassigned within the agency several times.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
Those moves are out of our hands.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Cassidy has spoken out about some of Kennedy’s moves, including slashing funding for mRNA research.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
Signing former 49ers left guard Aaron Banks and former Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency to big-money deals appear to be decent moves so far.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2025
Political experts say the timing and tenor of the moves leave little doubt that Manatee’s growth-curbing agenda triggered the response.
—Josh Salman, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moves
Verb
-
So the idea is that, when Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton office closes, Enervate relocates Oscar to its Toledo newspaper.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In the first episode, the family relocates to the Hamptons for the summer as Alec prepares for the criminal trial in New Mexico.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Marswalker opens its fold-out front doors, and the S2 drives up into a central compartment before the doors close again to secure the S2 in place.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Attendees acknowledged early how much of what drives housing costs lies outside city and state control, such as interest rates or labor and material supply.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That realization shifts everything.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
As the event serves as a global stage for elite athletes, attention also shifts to the evolution of the sport.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
That's a variable that influences the outcome of a study and sometimes even creates a false association.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
9 Sep. 2025
-
This guides both the fashion influences the company chooses to follow, as well as the creation of functional, emotionally durable garments.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Criticism triggers defensiveness; defensiveness fuels contempt; contempt provokes stonewalling.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
After a sleepy start to the second half at Old Trafford, the arrival of Benjamin Sesko, and the relocation of Cunha into a deeper position, provokes a fresh wave of interest.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Fueled by rage and an insatiable desire for freedom, Isaac persuades Charles to keep the plantation.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Authenticity, not polish, is increasingly what persuades.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Beginning to disconnect from your life and relationships Trauma can also be a piece of the picture—whether your work situation causes trauma or activates old trauma.—
Jess Cording,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
What happens from there was, for me, almost completely unexpected and Harrow activates both the brain and the heart in equal measure.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
According to Jones, flight attendants will deploy it when a pilot exits the cockpit to use the lavatory or for any other reason.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
This coincided with a number of high-profile exits at the agency.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moves. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share