MOTIVATIONAL Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

motivational

adjective

Definition of motivational

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.

Related Words

Relevance

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 motivational 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 Mershon echoes a motivational line to describe De Los Angeles’ mindset. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 That message isn’t a blandly inspirational or emptily motivational one. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 According to her TikTok profile, Velasquez is a motivational speaker and author with more than 940,000 followers on the platform. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026 Swayze, who McDonnell had worked with once before, played motivational speaker Jim Cunningham, who was revealed to be in possession of child pornography in the movie. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026 The motivational phrase helped carry the British people through the adversity of World War II. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026 Connected trainers, with streaks, reminders and visualized progress, target exactly that motivational gap. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivational

Adjective

Simon Sinek, author, inspirational speaker and founder of The Optimism Company in New York, shared his breakdown of core compatibilities for successful couples.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
The song, an inspirational ballad meant to guide Brown’s children through life, was featured as a duet with Parton on his 2025 album Love & Fear.

— Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of inspirational

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

Browse Nearby Words

motivation

motivational

motivations

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Motivational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivational. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of motivational

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

reticent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes