as in to encourage
to rouse to action or activity
The presence of treats motivated the dogs to obey their owner's commands. They drove a campaign to motivate voters to show up to the polls.
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of motivate
His retirement was motivated by a desire to spend more time with his family, particularly nurturing Keelan's aspirations on the racetrack.
—
Lydia Mee, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Moore said the moment with Dickerson helped motivate the Jayhawks.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2025
Share [Findings] Psychopaths recommend harsher punishments for homicides, whether accidental or motivated by profit, but exhibit relatively low concern about killing in general.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
The vice president of the government of Yemen has credited Trump's return to the White House for motivating the Houthis to stand down, citing the president's leadership and willingness to employ the strength of the U.S. military.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for motivate 
Lydia Mee, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Moore said the moment with Dickerson helped motivate the Jayhawks.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2025
Share [Findings] Psychopaths recommend harsher punishments for homicides, whether accidental or motivated by profit, but exhibit relatively low concern about killing in general.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
The vice president of the government of Yemen has credited Trump's return to the White House for motivating the Houthis to stand down, citing the president's leadership and willingness to employ the strength of the U.S. military.
—Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for motivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivate
Verb
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But Wilson said he was encouraged to engage with UCSD students.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Jan. 2025
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Instead, the coach is encouraged by what he’s seen from the mobile blueliner as of late.—
Kevin Kurz,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Trump’s self-assuredness in his ability to persuade and coerce a new Axis of Evil is a major perceptional error.—
Richard E. Vatz,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Jan. 2025
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Just two Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — voted against advancing Hegseth’s nomination; Democrats are still seeking to persuade others to join them for the final vote, citing accusations about his conduct.—
Andrew Ross Sorkin,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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To avoid insolvency, the plan could be forced to lean on its member carriers.—
Laurence Darmiento,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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The couple fell in love as teens but were pulled apart until years later when they’re forced to confront their past.—
Maggie Fremont,
EW.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With 18 seasons of NFL head coaching experience, a Super Bowl in 2013 with Seattle and a college football national championship in 2004 with USC, the winning pedigree could entice the front office to bring him in.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Jan. 2025
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The nation’s flight and digital connectivity, coupled with its safe and attractive investment climate, is enticing a growing number of international investors to establish homes on the islands.—
Panorama Media Ltd.,
Miami Herald,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The styles are inspired by 1960s Palm Beach, Fla., where Lilly Pulitzer was started, and features bold heritage prints and colors, but with a modern twist.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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It is inspired by the extraordinary real-life story of Mathias Rust, a young West German teenager in 1987 who shocked the world by flying through Soviet air defences and landed a Cessna aeroplane right in the middle of the Red Square.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Editor tip: This balm also includes Centella asiatica (a.k.a. cica) extract to stimulate collagen production to improve texture and bounciness.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 Jan. 2025
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Chronic stress, when the sympathetic nervous system doesn’t have a chance to release control, stimulates cortisol production.—
Shani Harmon,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The headband emits acoustic simulation that responds to the user’s brainwaves to induce sleep by suppressing alpha waves, which occur when the brain is in a relaxed state but still awake.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
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Another scene bound to induce winces and covered eyes involves a barbaric eyelash transplant procedure, cinematographer Marcel Zyskind’s camera bringing us way too close to the incisions and their aftermath.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near motivate
Cite this Entry
“Motivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivate. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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