driven 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdri-vən How to pronounce driven (audio)
Definition of drivennext
as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge a man with a driven need to be loved or liked by everyone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

driven

2 of 2

verb

past participle of drive
1
as in run
to urge, push, or force onward cowboys drove the herd of cattle from San Antonio to San Francisco

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2
as in tooled
to travel by a motorized vehicle I'm going to drive across the country—want to come?

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3
as in pushed
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one drove the plunger into the opening

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4
as in forced
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure the corrupt governor was driven out of office

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in powered
to cause to function machinery driven by waterpower

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in moved
to set or keep in motion this motor drives the gears, which then turn the shaft

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in raced
to proceed or move quickly the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of driven
Adjective
Even among the driven few, only a fraction of kids use ed-tech tools such as Khanmigo enough to see any gains. — Mike Goldstein, The Atlantic, 25 June 2026 The same review found that late luteal cravings for carbohydrates and comfort food are physiologically driven, not a willpower failure. — Allison Palmer updated June 13, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Verb
Weavabel said demand is being driven in part by brands preparing for evolving European compliance and Digital Product Passport requirements and seeking greater control over labeling across supplier networks. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 The authors found a long-run relationship between top incomes and art prices and argued that high-end art prices are driven less by the average person’s buying power than by how much the wealthiest can spend. — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for driven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for driven
  1. obsessive
  2. run
  3. tooled
  4. pushed
  5. forced
  6. powered
  7. moved
  8. raced
Adjective
  • The players responded with an almost obsessive level of focus.
    — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
  • His attention drifts towards intimate details – the bare armpit, the small hollow at the base of Rafael’s neck – and the music follows him into this increasingly private, almost obsessive fascination.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of obsessive
Verb
  • Cybersecurity experts told Fortune that unpatched systems could let hackers run code remotely, which puts websites and sensitive data at risk.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • At the racetrack, the horses ran, and Crawford hosted members at the Ruidoso Jockey Club, where private tables cost as much as six figures.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of run
Verb
  • Perry was also spotted behind the wheel of an electric vehicle and tooled around town with Trudeau riding in the passenger seat.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
  • Re-tooled with new signings, the defensive inadequacies and erratic finishing that had held the club back during his first campaign were eradicated.
    — Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Definition of tooled
Verb
  • The organization built a political presence in Texas with lobbying and legislative testimony as the state pushed back on transgender ideology in recent years.
    — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
  • If elected, the younger Bolsonaro, who comports himself as a more moderate version of his father, has been clear on his plans not only to secure his father’s freedom but to punish the top figures in the judiciary who pushed for his prosecution.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of pushed
Verb
  • Earlier this fall, a deadlocked jury in the Lindsay Clancy murder case forced the judge to declare a mistrial.
    — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • CoreWeave, the biggest of the group, has seen the spread on its credit default swaps soar past 11%, as investors are forced to pay up for insurance against default.
    — Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of forced
Verb
  • Eco Effort All Maybourne London hotels are powered by 100% renewable electricity, and a solar power farm in Essex is underway.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
  • Inside, the Ingenieur Automatic 40 is powered by the in-house Caliber 32111, offering a robust 120-hour power reserve—an engineering feat that mirrors the endurance and performance demanded on the track.
    — Carol Besler, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of powered
Verb
  • Deloitte found only 25% of organizations have moved 40% or more of their AI pilots into production.
    — Chris Koehler, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Trees fell onto homes and utility poles were knocked down by a possible tornado in a central Arizona community during a series of violent storms that moved through the state overnight into Thursday.
    — Wufei Yu, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of moved
Verb
  • Crowell snagged Brady Allen's pass and raced 46 yards down the right side for a 17-7 halftime lead.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Griffin Wilde, who finished with 133 receiving yards, Alex Honig and Drew Wagner caught passes for scores as Northwestern (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) raced to a 28-3 lead late in the first half.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of raced

Browse Nearby Words

drivels
driven
driver
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Cite this Entry

“Driven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/driven. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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