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
After that, Jupiter in your sixth house of wellness until summer 2027 motivates you to bring more elevated athleisure into your regular rotation, as you’ll be more fired up to take steps to boost your vitality.
—
Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Many survivors say hope for the future is the one thing that motivates them.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The notion clearly motivates Cardenas, instilling in him a sense of fervor and urgency.
—James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
What motivates a seemingly once-brilliant person who appeared to share my values (as an artist, a writer, a thinker), to double, triple down on intolerance?
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Any pen would do, but an ink set that inspires and motivates?
—Raquel Reichard, Refinery29, 16 Dec. 2025
Carson Feibusch, junior, Basha High School Carson is a curious junior whose drive to understand neuroscience energizes class discussions and motivates peers to explore new ideas with confidence and curiosity.
—Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The person came forward to offer a rare glimpse into what motivates some officers.
—Dorothy Tucker, CBS News, 15 Dec. 2025
Closkey founded the group after spending his early career working on revitalization efforts in the deeply distressed small city of Camden, New Jersey, and says his faith background motivates his work.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivates
Verb
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Pruning perennials at the right time encourages plants to leaf out, grow bushier, develop sturdier stems, and potentially produce more flowers.—
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Loudermilk says this is just one of the many ways Lions Clubs work to support their communities and encourages anyone interested in joining to reach out.—
Verb
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For example, a suet cake with mealworms attracts bluebirds, and adding fruit entices mockingbirds, says Stewart.—
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While Summer most likely has tonnes of toys and a dog bed, there’s something about cardboard boxes that entices pets.—
Verb
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WhatsApp already forces its users to upgrade their app every three months.—
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That depth matters in a season bisected by the FIFA World Cup, which runs June 11-July 19 and forces MLS into a seven-week hiatus.—
Verb
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Nuremberg explores how authoritarian regimes take over democracies — not by making a detailed intellectual case that persuades on its merits but by validating the power fantasies of those who feel shut out.—
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In the final confrontation, Tea persuades Miran to surrender, arguing that doing so will protect his family.—
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
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The sales pitch rhetoric inspires few.—
Verb
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The viral beauty gadget stimulates collagen, boosts circulation, and leaves you with plump, youthful results.—
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Continuing to seek out mental and social challenges stimulates brain metabolism, neuroplasticity and vascular health, according to Efrati, who also serves as chair of the medical advisory board at Aviv Clinics, which operates in Florida and Tel Aviv.—
Verb
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Glazed in acrylic, the work induces a dualistic perception.—
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The movement of the iron-rich liquid induces a magnetic field that covers the entire Earth.—
Verb
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The result is a film that provokes thought more than feeling, one that invites discussion, while denying audiences the emotional dimension that might have driven home its relevance.—
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But when her latest husband, discord spirit Raksh, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina must clean up his blunder, contend with Marjana’s demands for the truth…and figure out who on her crew is plotting a mutiny.—
Cite this Entry
“Motivates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivates. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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