motivator

noun

mo·​ti·​va·​tor ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-tər How to pronounce motivator (audio)
plural motivators
: one that motivates or impels someone or something
a subconscious motivator of behavior
: such as
a
: a factor or situation that causes people to feel motivated to do something : incentive
Only a fool, though, would deny that money is a very real and basic need and, of course, a motivator of sorts.Robert W. Corl
Exercising with someone else … can be a motivator.Joanne Lannin
Andre Harris, without basketball as a motivator, had slipped back into bad habits academically.John Feinstein
b
: a person who motivates others
But Romo's not an enabler; he's a motivator, says [Jessica] Simpson. "If I'm not feeling good about myself, he'll say, 'Get your butt up and go to the gym then!'"Michelle Tan

Examples of motivator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Movement on screens were also highlights as a strong motivator for screen attention in dogs which explains why Kevin could barely contain his excitement. David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 Based on our data, when asked what would make U.S. customers consistently return to a charging station, 40% of respondents ranked their experience around charging as the #1 influence, with getting the chance to interact with fellow EV drivers noted as a core motivator in open responses. Andrew Cornelia, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024 The award is a stamp of approval and major motivator for arthouse fans, helping films cross over to a broader audience. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2024 Leverage Fear Fear can either be a powerful motivator or a powerful paralyzer. Melanie Borden, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for motivator 

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motivator was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near motivator

Cite this Entry

“Motivator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivator. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!