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
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Cultivating talent and developing my team has always been a significant motivator for me. Billee Howard, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025 But Chen found the government’s arguments unpersuasive and found that numerous derogatory and false comments by Noem — and by Trump — against Venezuelans as criminals show that racial animus was a motivator in ending protections. Janie Har, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025 The unpredictable nature of film photography has been a powerful motivator for Aldridge across his extensive career, spanning around three decades. Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025 Trustee Morgan Dubiel said during that Jan. 28 meeting that the biggest motivator for the rate increase is to shore up funds for two major projects in the coming year: A new pumping station and replacing old service lines that contain lead. Alan Kozeluh, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Motivator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivator. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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