Synonyms of motivate

motivate

verb

as in to encourage

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• encourage
• persuade
• force
• entice
• inspire
• stimulate
• induce
• provoke
• spur
• incite
• excite
• energize
• drive
• arouse
• galvanize
• instigate
• propel
• activate
• move
• motive
• bribe
• stir
• spark
• fire (up)
• rev (up)
• lure
• impel
• animate
• vitalize
• set off
• seduce
• pique
• quicken
• tempt
• impassion
• key (up)
• pump up
• beguile
• get
• goad
• ignite
• lead on
• trigger
• bait
• allure
• inflame
• annoy
• foment
• kindle
• aggravate
• abet
• irritate
• whip (up)
• fan
• enflame
• exasperate
• raise
• ferment
• bother
• anger
• vex
• enrage
• upset
• gall
• madden

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm
• subdue
• soothe
• appease
• placate
• pacify
• tranquillize
• tranquilize
• mollify

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of motivate

Don’t look for a back to motivate Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime and Tyler Badie. —Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2025

Eventually, some brilliant bureaucrats realized that humans are motivated by competition, and the Florida Python Challenge was born. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025

Carignan downplayed the risks of AI eliminating jobs, noting that machines cannot replicate the human-to-human interactions needed to manage and motivate staff. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025

Miami attorney Marcell Felipe, founder of Inspire America, a group that advocates for freedom for Cuba and the Americas, noted that Diaz-Balart motivated an entire generation to continue fighting for global freedom. —Nora Gámez Torres and, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025