Synonyms of moving

moving 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmü-viŋ 

as in emotional

having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies

he gave a truly moving graduation speech that had some graduates in tears

Synonyms & Similar Words

• emotional
• impressive
• touching
• exciting
• passionate
• stirring
• excitable
• affecting
• poignant
• inspirational
• impactful
• feeling
• dramatic
• eloquent
• meaningful
• expressive
• theatrical
• provoking
• responsive
• significant
• stimulating
• demonstrative
• sensitive
• rousing
• melodramatic
• cathartic
• histrionic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• detached
• cold
• unemotional
• cool
• unimpressive
• dispassionate
• unaffecting
• emotionless
• deadpan

moving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of move

1

as in relocating

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

• relocating
• shifting
• removing
• transferring
• transporting
• disturbing
• displacing
• repositioning
• conveying
• carrying
• hauling
• replacing
• transposing
• transmitting
• dislocating
• driving
• budging
• transplanting
• carting
• lugging
• toting
• altering
• modifying
• supplanting
• superseding
• revising
• remodeling
• varying
• reworking
• remaking
• bearing
• revamping
• redoing
• making over
• refashioning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• securing
• setting
• stabilizing
• fixing
• freezing
• anchoring
• mooring
• embedding
• rooting
• lodging
• implanting
• entrenching
• ingraining

2

as in driving

to set or keep in motion

the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery

Synonyms & Similar Words

• driving
• activating
• propelling
• working
• actuating
• stimulating
• triggering
• raising
• motivating
• impelling
• provoking
• inciting
• fermenting
• stirring (up)
• tripping
• whipping (up)
• exciting
• abetting
• setting off
• galvanizing
• firing (up)
• fomenting
• inspiring
• rousing
• arousing
• instigating
• inflaming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• controlling
• containing
• checking
• regulating
• restraining
• inhibiting
• constraining
• curbing
• bridling
• reining (in)

3

as in shifting

to change one's position

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shifting
• stirring
• twitching
• squirming
• locomoting
• fidgeting
• wiggling
• writhing
• tossing
• jiggling
• budging
• fiddling
• wriggling
• rousing
• squiggling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• freezing
• remaining
• staying
• hanging around
• stabilizing
• stilling
• sticking around
• tarrying

4

as in affecting

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

• affecting
• influencing
• impacting
• touching
• impressing
• striking
• reaching
• swaying
• interesting
• involving
• inspiring
• telling (on)
• bothering
• getting to
• attracting
• transporting
• fascinating
• penetrating
• concerning
• stirring
• disturbing
• carrying away
• trying
• dazzling
• worrying
• biasing
• engaging
• plaguing
• ravishing
• entrancing
• troubling
• enchanting
• harassing
• stressing
• distressing
• upsetting
• piercing
• afflicting
• perturbing
• agitating
• captivating
• coloring
• pestering
• charming
• disquieting
• enthralling
• smiting
• enrapturing
• wringing
• flustering
• harrying
• discomforting
• straining
• discomposing
• bewitching
• alluring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tiring
• boring
• wearying
• palling
• jading
• underwhelming

5

as in provoking

to rouse to strong feeling or action

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provoking
• encouraging
• stimulating
• stirring
• driving
• inspiring
• exciting
• motivating
• sparking
• arousing
• inciting
• instigating
• firing (up)
• inducing
• triggering
• revving (up)
• impassioning
• motiving
• activating
• animating
• igniting
• building a fire under
• fanning
• piquing
• galvanizing
• energizing
• bothering
• getting
• quickening
• kindling
• angering
• inflaming
• setting off
• raising
• fermenting
• fomenting
• vitalizing
• pumping up
• whipping (up)
• keying (up)
• teasing
• upsetting
• taunting
• abetting
• maddening
• enraging
• aggravating
• jeering
• irritating
• annoying
• exasperating
• vexing
• galling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soothing
• calming
• subduing
• appeasing
• placating
• tranquilizing
• pacifying
• mollifying

6

as in persuading

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

• persuading
• convincing
• bringing
• satisfying
• getting
• inducing
• converting
• urging
• gaining
• attracting
• arguing
• winning (over)
• talking (into)
• prevailing (on or upon)
• coaxing
• bringing around
• selling
• prompting
• luring
• swaying
• seducing
• enticing
• influencing
• entreating
• exhorting
• cajoling
• tempting
• interesting
• discussing
• wheedling
• drawing
• inclining
• snowing
• blandishing
• conversing
• alluring
• blarneying
• leading on
• beguiling
• debating
• brainwashing
• disputing
• fast-talking
• reasoning (with)
• hashing (over)
• overpersuading
• chewing over
• mooting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discouraging
• deterring
• dissuading
• unselling

7

as in activating

to cause to function

this one button moves the whole machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activating
• triggering
• driving
• sparking
• starting
• powering
• generating
• fueling
• running
• pushing
• actuating
• igniting
• provoking
• setting off
• firing
• turning on
• charging
• touching off
• cranking (up)
• electrifying
• switching
• launching
• releasing
• energizing
• stimulating
• discharging
• accelerating
• tripping
• turning over
• exciting
• recharging
• reactivating
• kicking over
• inciting
• quickening
• arousing
• instigating
• vitalizing
• stirring up
• catalyzing
• stepping up
• jump-starting
• kick-starting
• speeding (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cutting
• killing
• checking
• stopping
• sticking
• cutting out
• shutting off
• turning off
• arresting
• halting
• braking
• cutting off
• stalling
• jamming
• slowing
• drawing up
• deactivating
• suppressing
• repressing
• decelerating
• stunting

8

as in exiting

to leave a place often for another

the police officer told the loiterers to move along

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exiting
• departing
• getting
• going
• starting
• evacuating
• fleeing
• escaping
• flying
• parting
• quitting
• bailing
• withdrawing
• retreating
• pulling out
• running along
• retiring
• walking out
• getting off
• pushing off
• digging out
• stepping (along)
• cutting out
• emigrating
• taking off
• peeling off
• pushing on
• packing (up or off)
• shoving (off)
• bailing out
• going off
• buzzing (off)
• skipping
• clearing out
• beating it
• booking
• bugging out
• clearing off
• sallying (forth)
• taking a hike
• scarpering
• hitting the road
• taking a powder
• buggering off
• vamoosing
• abandoning
• pulling stakes
• bugging off
• removing
• setting out
• piking (out or off)
• vacating
• striking out
• deserting
• getting out
• running away
• absconding
• forsaking
• decamping
• going out
• stepping out
• scramming
• mizzling
• scatting
• adjourning
• lighting out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• coming
• arriving
• remaining
• staying
• settling
• showing up
• approaching
• closing
• dwelling
• lodging
• abiding
• reaching
• turning up
• nearing
• hitting
• tarrying
• landing

Synonym Chooser

How is the word moving distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of moving are affecting, impressive, pathetic, poignant, and touching. While all these words mean "having the power to produce deep emotion," moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

How do affecting and moving relate to one another?

Affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

In what contexts can impressive take the place of moving?

While in some cases nearly identical to moving, impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

When can pathetic be used instead of moving?

The meanings of pathetic and moving largely overlap; however, pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

When could poignant be used to replace moving?

The words poignant and moving are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

When would touching be a good substitute for moving?

In some situations, the words touching and moving are roughly equivalent. However, touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of moving

Adjective

One of Bourdain’s most moving reflections on fatherhood came in a 2013 essay for The Guardian. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026

To discover that the notes corresponded to where there was more human activity was really very moving. — Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Verb

That’s a testament to her leadership, composure and ability to manage multiple moving parts during a time of crisis. — Kathy Lee, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

As for the Enterprise space shuttle, it was displayed at the National Air and Space Museum in 2003 before moving over to the Intrepid Museum in New York City nine years later. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing moving

• moving picture