as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
a man with a driven need to be loved or liked by everyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in pushed
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
drove the plunger into the opening
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in forced
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
the corrupt governor was driven out of office
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in powered
to cause to function
machinery driven by waterpower
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6
as in moved
to set or keep in motion
this motor drives the gears, which then turn the shaft
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in raced
to proceed or move quickly
the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of driven
Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Jordan Coleman steps in as Cheyenne Barnes, a bold hairstylist whose confidence masks years of unresolved pain, while Tunde Oyeneyin plays Madison Truitt, a driven entrepreneur navigating success, expectations, and the search for real partnership.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Jan. 2026
John Drake, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
When asked about the incident, Waymo told USA TODAY the vehicle had been navigating a parking lot and had driven into a lane that had not been blocked off.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for driven
Adjective
The new funding will be used to expand Holywater’s platform capabilities, improve recommendation systems, and scale AI driven IP discovery rather than dramatically increasing headcount or production spend.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Jordan Coleman steps in as Cheyenne Barnes, a bold hairstylist whose confidence masks years of unresolved pain, while Tunde Oyeneyin plays Madison Truitt, a driven entrepreneur navigating success, expectations, and the search for real partnership.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
Public health experts attribute the widespread devastation to a confluence of factors, including increasingly intense storms driven by climate change, a shortage of vaccines, and inadequate water and sewer infrastructure.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
When asked about the incident, Waymo told USA TODAY the vehicle had been navigating a parking lot and had driven into a lane that had not been blocked off.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for driven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for driven
Adjective
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Obsession, Curry Barker’s indie horror thriller about dangerous obsessive behavior, is winning over Rotten Tomatoes critics.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
If grass eating is new, sudden, obsessive or comes packaged with any of the symptoms listed above, a vet visit is in order, according to Guilfoyle.—
Diana Bocco,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Made from a breathable, sweat-wicking fabric, these versatile pants are perfect for light activities like long walks, warm-ups, running errands, and busy travel days.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
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Lollipops in every shape and size, run like fence posts throughout the tables.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Re-tooled with new signings, the defensive inadequacies and erratic finishing that had held the club back during his first campaign were eradicated.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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But Theobald tooled the Zephyrs’ block, pushing the Tigers over the line with a 25-22 set 4 win.—
Andrew Cornelius,
Twin Cities,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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One of the activities that received the most enjoyment from viewers was when the girls pushed themselves on the swing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Defense attorney Curtis Rogers pushed back against that claim, arguing in his opening statement that other school staffers, including Zwerner, could have acted.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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But, according to the Department of Homeland Security, the majority of trafficking victims—seventy-seven per cent—are forced into labor.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The fire destroyed two structures — a cabin and an equipment shed — and forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees, who were rescued by a Santa Barbara County Fire Department helicopter.—
Jack Flemming,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Inside, the Ingenieur Automatic 40 is powered by the in-house Caliber 32111, offering a robust 120-hour power reserve—an engineering feat that mirrors the endurance and performance demanded on the track.—
Carol Besler,
Robb Report,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After staff members broke up the altercation for a second time, several individuals, including Hayes and two of her daughters, were moved to a grassy area beside the school building, according to the affidavit.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
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Fugaz moved to this location early last year—the former spot was, though somewhat unbelievable, even smaller.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Lee became the first Giants hitter to be credited with one against the Dodgers since 1981, when Larry Herndon raced around the bases against Fernando Valenzuela at Candlestick Park.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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The sound was moving, and Larry raced for our plane and turned on the emergency transmitter.—
Ben East,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Driven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/driven. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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