as in diligent
having a strong desire for personal advancement
He was lauded by faculty as an exceptionally hardworking, curious, and motivated student. The company was looking for motivated self-starters to fill the sales position.
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as in encouraged
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motivated
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The racially motivated attack, carried out by members of the Ku Klux Klan, intensified national outrage and was a catalyst for major civil rights advancements.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
But now Trump's attacks against the BLS are raising concerns that the government's number crunchers will be politically motivated, which is fueling worries about the integrity of the country's economic data.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivated
Adjective
Still, a recent study by the libertarian Cato Institute found more politically motivated killings in the United States come from right-leaning extremists.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The racially motivated attack, carried out by members of the Ku Klux Klan, intensified national outrage and was a catalyst for major civil rights advancements.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Tucker was a counterintuitive criminal who was motivated not by money but, even more richly, by the pure, joyous thrill of getting away with something.
—K. Austin Collins, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
But now Trump's attacks against the BLS are raising concerns that the government's number crunchers will be politically motivated, which is fueling worries about the integrity of the country's economic data.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivated
Adjective
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When shopping for supplements, be diligent about choosing products that contain quality ingredients and are made by reputable companies.—
Sam Manzella,
Flow Space,
10 Sep. 2025
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Identifying stocks that combine strong fundamentals with cheap valuations should remain a priority for diligent investors.—
David Trainer,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In his acceptance speech, Cooper revealed only started drama classes a couple of years ago and encouraged those watching to step out of their comfort zones.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
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In recent years, as American moms have been enthusiastically encouraged to breastfeed, many experts have emphasized that making sure infants are fed, period, should be parents’ highest priority.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Most of Earth’s radiation isn’t energetic enough to excite water molecules into a vibrational quantum states.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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The vibe is energetic without being overwhelming—a place where groups gather, conversations fill the air, and the meal becomes the centerpiece of the evening.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instead, Syed was forced out this summer despite two decades of experience in counterterrorism and cyber operations.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
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The show also featured a number of first-time nominees and first-time winners like Tramell Tillman, Jeff Hiller, Hannah Einbinder, and Owen Cooper, all of whom were been forced to amend their moment in the spotlight to adhere to the joke.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Saúl is a fixture at his father's bouts and already seems determined to follow in his father’s footsteps.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
13 Sep. 2025
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Her flippers, each more than two feet long, scooped out sand and flung it to her sides in slow, determined strokes.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Scott, McDonald and Neary were arrested, but Rackauckas and a Fullerton police detective persuaded Neary to testify against the other two men, according to the motion.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
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The judges also didn’t seem persuaded by some of Kilaru’s arguments that college sports is fundamentally about college students playing sports, and thus more about education than business.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
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Although the North Aegean’s dynamic environment and geology creates less-than-ideal preservation conditions, the team still discovered evidence of numerous stone tools from multiple Paleolithic periods.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The sparkling candy paint and big rims enticed me.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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The sight of Morro Rock has greeted countless visitors to this part of California’s Central Coast for centuries, from the European explorers who came to the area enticed by its calm waters, to the modern-day surfers who ride the swells that break outside the bay.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motivated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivated. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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