as in encourages
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 motivates
Not sure if Hafley meant more than an introduction, maybe an in-depth conversation, digging into topics like what motivates a player.
—
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Ours is not to wonder what motivates him to keep rolling at spooky full speed, but to listen to what the man sings, and to hope to keep winning the lottery.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
The Leo moon motivates you to take care of routine tasks with ease.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Know that a leader is someone who listens well and who motivates others toward greatness.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Greed motivates a number of inappropriate behaviors.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
That human connection — a pushback against the faceless nature of a streamlined, online system — is what motivates Emhof to leave positive reviews.
—James Doubek, NPR, 26 Feb. 2026
My faith teaches me to feed the hungry and motivates me to help those who are in need.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
What motivates him, besides the discerning women who exist to spoon-feed him the harsh truths of life?
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Ours is not to wonder what motivates him to keep rolling at spooky full speed, but to listen to what the man sings, and to hope to keep winning the lottery.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
The Leo moon motivates you to take care of routine tasks with ease.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Know that a leader is someone who listens well and who motivates others toward greatness.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Greed motivates a number of inappropriate behaviors.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
That human connection — a pushback against the faceless nature of a streamlined, online system — is what motivates Emhof to leave positive reviews.
—James Doubek, NPR, 26 Feb. 2026
My faith teaches me to feed the hungry and motivates me to help those who are in need.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
What motivates him, besides the discerning women who exist to spoon-feed him the harsh truths of life?
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivates
Verb
-
His inept Cabinet ignores, and actually encourages, his very weird and embarrassing meandering.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Sarah Olim, a general dentist in Katy, Texas, encourages her patients to come in for visits every six months.—
Tribune News Service,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Your starter entices with a spicy-tangy flavor, leading into the classic roasted chicken entree.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Christopher McVey was sent off late against Real Salt Lake after a second yellow card, which rules him out for Saturday and forces a lineup shuffle.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Freshman Hannah Wells get the start for Texas and forces three quick groundouts.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
-
But then a mysterious Romany woman (Rebecca Ferguson) turns up, and persuades him to return to Birmingham, in order to bring his violent illegitimate son (Barry Keoghan) – who now runs his Peaky Blinders mob – to heel.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Office storage rarely inspires much emotion, but Audo Copenhagen’s Crescent system gets close.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Beta-glucan also stimulates the release of GLP-1 from the gut, sending hormonal signals of fullness to the brain.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2026
-
This molecule directly stimulates bone-building cells, helping increase bone density and strength.—
Hadia Zainab,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Played in full, Silent Way induces a pervasive nausea, reveling in gawky soundscapes that seem barely able to contain their outsized, clashing ideas.—
Maxie Younger,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The dramedy examines the power (im)balances between spouses after a technological accident induces the ultimate relationship crisis.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the question of what is true or not is futile, even if Calle deliberately provokes this curiosity.—
Elisa Wouk Almino
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The flurry of imagery provokes a surreal sort of whiplash.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motivates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivates. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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