Synonyms of motivated
: provided with a motive : having an incentive or a strong desire to do well or succeed in some pursuit
a motivated employee
Courses are being offered on college campuses for those who are highly motivated but who without such help often drop out and are lost to society and themselves.Carol Kort
In a sporting context, for example, athletes who consistently seem to play hard and rarely concede defeat are often described as highly motivated or "competitive" by the media.Robert C. Eklund

Examples of motivated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Not everyone is as motivated, so find the good eggs and sit in their sections. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026 Your most motivated business buyer might not be a competitor at all. Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 Hispanics or Latinos were the target of the biggest increase in racially or ethnically motivated hate crimes, according to the report. Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 In a statement, a spokesman for Gallego dismissed the investigation as politically motivated. Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for motivated

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motivated was in 1903

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Cite this Entry

“Motivated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivated. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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