as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity
fear of failing should be plenty of motivation to study for the test
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motivation
Despite a months-long investigation, questions remain about Crooks’ motivation and any preventative measures that could have been implemented.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Was part of your motivation for the film to give hope to people who feel like outcasts?
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
The movie’s psychological framework, its system of motivations, is stretched very thin between two extremes: of clarity and opacity, near-obviousness and absolute impenetrability.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 May 2025
One player who should not be short of motivation is Nicolas Jackson after missing the final two games through suspension after his red card against Newcastle United.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Was part of your motivation for the film to give hope to people who feel like outcasts?
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
The movie’s psychological framework, its system of motivations, is stretched very thin between two extremes: of clarity and opacity, near-obviousness and absolute impenetrability.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 May 2025
One player who should not be short of motivation is Nicolas Jackson after missing the final two games through suspension after his red card against Newcastle United.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivation
Noun
-
The Biden administration sought to encourage manufacturers to build in the United States, but those efforts are still in their early stages, and many of the government incentives are now on the chopping block.—
Dan Gearino,
Wired News,
31 May 2025
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Margin Pressures Persist Due to the high interest and mortgage rates, many homebuilders have increased incentives and rate buydowns, which negatively impact margins.—
David Trainer,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
The church declined an interview and did not respond to specific questions about the impetus for the change.—
Lauren Jackson,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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The immigration issue was Worsley’s impetus to enter politics.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
15 May 2025
Noun
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While this is good news, student loan borrowers should remember this drop shouldn't be taken as encouragement to acquire more student debt at lower rates.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
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Kelly had posted several photos on social media while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as insurrectionists injured police officers and destroyed Capitol property with prior encouragement from President Donald Trump at a rally.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
Noun
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The 2021 Biden stimulus bill provided additional financial incentives to the holdout states.—
The Editors,
National Review,
5 June 2025
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Consider stimulus like background noise, scent from air fresheners and perfumes, family members all calling the puppy at once etc.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motivation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivation. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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