MOTIVATING Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

motivating 1 of 2

adjective

as in motivational

serving or likely to arouse action or activity The biggest motivating factor behind her decision to change jobs was the pay increase. The positive feedback he received was very motivating.

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motivating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of motivate

as in encouraging

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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Dissimilar Words

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 motivating

Verb

For this historic election, however, unchecked violent crime, home demolitions, chronic underfunding in their communities, West Bank unrest, and the war in Gaza are all motivating Arab voters. — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026 The 41-year-old and 25-year-old NBA stars have a history of training together, and James cited Maxey as one of the main factors motivating him to come to Philly. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 That realization can be simultaneously motivating and alarming. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Skeptics of Proposition 40, the official name for the billionaire tax ballot measure, say that the measure could ultimately reduce tax revenue by motivating wealthy Californians to relocate and take their wealth with them. — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 There’s something motivating you that the rest of people right now just don’t understand. — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026 Determined, Teagan bulldozes her way through the boathouse, eventually becoming the team’s coxswain, the only non-rowing member who is tasked with steering, managing the race plan and motivating the rest of the team. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 In other words, setting direction, then guiding, persuading and motivating others, isn’t enough anymore. — Liz Guthridge, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026 But pundits question if the shindig could backfire by further motivating Democrats and independents who are furious over rising prices, the shaky economy and the war in Iran. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivating

Adjective

On the columns of train stations, stickers bore the smiling faces of soldiers in their twenties alongside motivational quotes and the dates of their births and deaths.

— Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Though apparently diminishing his own roster is part of the team's motivational playbook.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of motivational

Adjective

These spaces are about wonder, perfect for a museum that, at its core, is about teaching and inspiring children.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
During the song’s orchestral instrumental, Styles and his classmates watch as their instructor performs an inspiring solo routine that incorporates a number of birdlike movements.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of inspiring

Verb

Cooper has led wire-to-wire over Republican opponent Michael Whatley, maintaining wide polling and fundraising leads and forcing key GOP super PACs to pause spending in the race to focus elsewhere.

— Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026
The question is going to voters because opponents gathered petition signatures forcing a referendum.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of forcing

Verb

Justin Perez, 28, of Springfield, Massachusetts took a plea deal on Monday in Rockville Superior Court, pleading guilty to charges of risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026
The seminary student and educator has also been critical of his own party — calling it out for ineptitude, leaving voters behind — and arguing that anti-establishment messaging is enticing to Latinos who have been spurned by both major parties.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of enticing

Verb

The piece suggests the ad was aimed less at persuading undecided voters than at energizing the Republican base.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
The trick involves persuading electrons to abandon their individuality and form quantum partnerships known as Cooper pairs.

— Sven Badoux, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of persuading

Verb

Some see promise in manipulating the gut microbiome; others are exploring the potential of stimulating the vagus nerve, eliciting a psychedelic experience or repurposing drugs that might quiet inflammation in the brain.

— Lynne Peeples, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Mounjaro and Zepbound, also made by Eli Lilly, mimic the effects of GLP-1 as well as GIP, a type of hormone that helps regulate blood sugar by stimulating insulin.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of stimulating

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Style

“Motivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivating. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of motivating

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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