1
2
3
as in pushes
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
drove the plunger into the opening
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in compels
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
the corrupt governor was driven out of office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in activates
to cause to function
machinery driven by waterpower
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in moves
to set or keep in motion
this motor drives the gears, which then turn the shaft
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in speeds
to proceed or move quickly
the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in highways
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
raced our motorcycles along the drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in campaigns
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal
a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drives
Austin Carter, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The heat causes the second liquid to turn to steam, and the steam drives a generator turbine, producing electricity.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Any physical barrier could jeopardize the landscape that draws more than half a million visitors annually and drives the local economy.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
As the war in Iran drives gas prices skyward, some consumers are considering electric vehicles as a cost-saving measure.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 2 Apr. 2026
This is what happens when short-term thinking drives long-term decisions.
—Jason Gallion, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
Newport’s skillful direction drives the more than 3½-hour play (including two intermissions), making every minute count.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
For more than a century, scientists have known that ultraviolet light drives vitamin D production.
—Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
While no single factor drives the wage gap, occupational segregation accounts for a large part of it.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Though Arity also said drives started from higher-income areas are adding up the additional miles faster compared with lower-income communities.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 31 Mar. 2026
In the last year, Make Great Plays has conducted backpack and supply drives that outfitted more than 100 students and spent classroom time with students to increase computer literacy.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
For residents, the town does monthly food drives in cooperation with Farm Share, family and holiday events in Oglesby Park and Town Hall and giveaways of Christmas gifts, school supplies, bicycles and turkeys.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Across the country, stations have held funding drives and urged communities to make donations in order to stay afloat.
—Stephany Matat, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Storage runs on two tool-less hot-swap NVMe drives – swappable in seconds without opening the chassis – with an optional third SATA unit in the media bay.
—Omar Kardoudi
march 31, New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
Only two Amazon facilities, a Staten Island warehouse and a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia, have held successful union drives.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Since Michigan will want to trap and stop any guard play, Texas can't get away with dribble drives.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
For Robert Flamerich, who drives from Miami Beach to Doral daily, conserving gas means sacrificing comfort.
—Austin Carter, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
The heat causes the second liquid to turn to steam, and the steam drives a generator turbine, producing electricity.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Any physical barrier could jeopardize the landscape that draws more than half a million visitors annually and drives the local economy.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
As the war in Iran drives gas prices skyward, some consumers are considering electric vehicles as a cost-saving measure.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 2 Apr. 2026
This is what happens when short-term thinking drives long-term decisions.
—Jason Gallion, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
Newport’s skillful direction drives the more than 3½-hour play (including two intermissions), making every minute count.
—Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
For more than a century, scientists have known that ultraviolet light drives vitamin D production.
—Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
While no single factor drives the wage gap, occupational segregation accounts for a large part of it.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
The similar drives of Wagler and Mirković are one of the things that have bonded them.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Though Arity also said drives started from higher-income areas are adding up the additional miles faster compared with lower-income communities.
—Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 31 Mar. 2026
In the last year, Make Great Plays has conducted backpack and supply drives that outfitted more than 100 students and spent classroom time with students to increase computer literacy.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
For residents, the town does monthly food drives in cooperation with Farm Share, family and holiday events in Oglesby Park and Town Hall and giveaways of Christmas gifts, school supplies, bicycles and turkeys.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Across the country, stations have held funding drives and urged communities to make donations in order to stay afloat.
—Stephany Matat, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Storage runs on two tool-less hot-swap NVMe drives – swappable in seconds without opening the chassis – with an optional third SATA unit in the media bay.
—Omar Kardoudi
march 31, New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
Only two Amazon facilities, a Staten Island warehouse and a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia, have held successful union drives.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Since Michigan will want to trap and stop any guard play, Texas can't get away with dribble drives.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drives
Verb
-
The festival runs from May 4 to May 10.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Using a synesthetic logic all his own, Torres explains why Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson is orange, Catholicism is purple, and navy blue is the nefarious color that secretly runs the world.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That leaves a sicker, older, more expensive pool of enrollees, which pushes up premiums for everyone.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Our standards, our accountability and the way the group pushes each other every day, that is what has sustained our performance independent of who the head coach is.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The New York Times is seeking a new order that compels Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth‘s team to rescind a set of press access restrictions that a federal judge ruled unconstitutional last week.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Even so, each glimpse of what lies beyond Earth compels us to search farther.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Removing visual stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces cortisol.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Sensory Reduction and Cortisol Removing visual stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces cortisol.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Israel moves fast, launching a bold military operation against a weaker Middle Eastern neighbor.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
After that, the Moon moves from LEO into VIRGO.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, the strikes usually come when the bait slows down or speeds up momentarily.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Guests pile into an elevator on Goat Island that speeds down to the base of the falls and deposits them by the Hurricane Deck and adjoining catwalk.—
Jamie Spain,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Waymo doesn’t yet operate on Miami highways.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kalshi is barring athletes and coaches from betting on their sports and preventing politicians from trading on their campaigns, Axios reported.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
While the district has launched campaigns to market specific programs before, none have matched the scope of this one, according to Amanda Simpson, director of communications.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drives. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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