as in inspirational
serving or likely to arouse action or activity
A poster with a motivational message was hung above the water cooler. The conference will feature talks by some well-known motivational speakers.
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Recent Examples of motivational
Robbins broke out as a motivational speaker sensation in the mid-90’s, parlaying his program into transformational programs, immersive experiences and executive education.
—
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
But there was one moment during the performance that stuck with me, when Bad Bunny gave an impassioned motivational speech in Spanish, urging the audience to recognize their worth.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Amid the blowback surrounding the controversial outing, Kid Rock took to social media Thursday to share a motivational quote from the Los Angeles Lakers star, who died in a helicopter crash in early 2020.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
With an experiential exhibit on Anne Frank and a robust schedule of motivational speaking engagements, film screenings, tours, and workshops, this important museum is the only one of its kind in the world.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Years ago, Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, did not see much significance in the motivational tactics or customs of NFL players.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
It can be used as a motivational tool to foster a sense of camaraderie in sports or the classroom.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
The Cultural Center offers a rich year-round events program that includes motivational talks, inspiring performances, salons, dinners, wellness experiences and intimate gatherings with artists, thinkers, chefs and cultural leaders.
—Emma Kershaw, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
To further inspire students, Mrinal Mandal, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at IIT Kharagpur, gave a motivational talk in Bengali.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Jan. 2026
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
But there was one moment during the performance that stuck with me, when Bad Bunny gave an impassioned motivational speech in Spanish, urging the audience to recognize their worth.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Amid the blowback surrounding the controversial outing, Kid Rock took to social media Thursday to share a motivational quote from the Los Angeles Lakers star, who died in a helicopter crash in early 2020.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
With an experiential exhibit on Anne Frank and a robust schedule of motivational speaking engagements, film screenings, tours, and workshops, this important museum is the only one of its kind in the world.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Years ago, Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, did not see much significance in the motivational tactics or customs of NFL players.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
It can be used as a motivational tool to foster a sense of camaraderie in sports or the classroom.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
The Cultural Center offers a rich year-round events program that includes motivational talks, inspiring performances, salons, dinners, wellness experiences and intimate gatherings with artists, thinkers, chefs and cultural leaders.
—Emma Kershaw, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
To further inspire students, Mrinal Mandal, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at IIT Kharagpur, gave a motivational talk in Bengali.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivational
Adjective
-
No quips or inspirational quotes.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
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But none aped the style of an actual Super Bowl ad more cleverly than this one, clearly modeled after Budweiser’s ads that tend to feature horses and inspirational voiceovers.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As the nation honors Black History Month, stories of resilience, innovation, and community impact take center stage — none more inspiring than the journey of Trish Miller.—
Jobina Fortson-Evans,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
For fans at home, watching a professional athlete battle through injury can be inspiring.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motivational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivational. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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