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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Recent Examples of motivate
Perhaps the right-wing US ideological fantasy that Russia is a natural US ally in a future confrontation with China, and can be broken away from its most important backer, is motivating Washington’s dramatic geopolitical shift.
—
Matthew Chance, CNN, 2 Mar. 2025
Read the full Libra Daily Horoscope Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
Are your routines motivating or depleting you?
—USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
This is about helping people feel ownership of ideas, and motivating them to move forward.
—Scott Mautz, Contributor, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
The same drive that motivates Linn in other aspects of their life fuels their desire to win gold this weekend after last year’s second-place finish.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivate
Matthew Chance, CNN, 2 Mar. 2025
Read the full Libra Daily Horoscope Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
Are your routines motivating or depleting you?
—USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
This is about helping people feel ownership of ideas, and motivating them to move forward.
—Scott Mautz, Contributor, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
The same drive that motivates Linn in other aspects of their life fuels their desire to win gold this weekend after last year’s second-place finish.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivate
Verb
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But the internet encourages the transformation of antipathy into creative fodder, and enables its dissemination.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2025
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Officials encourage Carolinians to stay informed through official emergency sources and call 911 to report any immediate threats.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The ethos resonates with Lugano’s down-to-earth yet powerful clientele so much so that the company persuaded eight of its VIPs to star in its latest ad campaign free of charge.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
1 Mar. 2025
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Mexican residents targeted In 1915, James Rawlings, secretary-manager of the Fort Worth Relief Association, persuaded U.S. immigration agents to investigate Mexican people living in Dallas Alley.—
Richard J. Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Tracking the Trump administration’s rollback of climate and environmental policies can seem like being forced through a wormhole back in time.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
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However, much to her dismay, she was then forced to treat Damien amid the chaos at the hospital as the heat dome in Seattle continued.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Instead, General Catalyst is in rapid expansion mode — trying to build the sort of diversified, fee-generating asset base that would entice Wall Street analysts to use firms like Blackstone as comps.—
Dan Primack,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
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But the black-and-white film about two Black couples, played by the same actors, living in Chicago during two different time periods, didn’t entice distributors.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Create 5 different ways to end emails that inspire action without being salesy.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
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From her childhood sewing machine and early college sketches, to up-close looks at the Malcolm X zoot suits and Turkana-tribe inspired beadwork for Black Panther, the result was a comprehensive, full-circle story.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The jokey, gleefully profane lyrics are stimulating in the moment but then quickly forgotten, like novelty songs in a clever college cabaret.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
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Such a device could perhaps stimulate different parts of the tongue to, say, determine if the brain was processing sensory signals properly.—
Gayoung Lee,
Scientific American,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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That was when homophobic protests and boycotts induced Target to pull gay Pride merchandise from many stores and to quiet its LGBTQ support.—
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards,
Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2025
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That was when homophobic protests and boycotts induced Target to pull gay pride merchandise from many stores and to quiet its LBGTQ support.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivate. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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