Synonyms of drive

drive 1 of 2

verb

ˈdrīv 

1

as in to run

to urge, push, or force onward

cowboys drove the herd of cattle from San Antonio to San Francisco

Synonyms & Similar Words

• run
• punch
• herd
• shepherd
• whip
• press
• spur
• prompt
• egg
• wrangle
• exhort
• hound
• prod
• goad
• flog
• prick
• scourge

2

as in to motor

to travel by a motorized vehicle

I'm going to drive across the country—want to come?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• motor
• automobile
• ride
• tool
• race
• taxi
• wheel
• roll
• chauffeur
• drag
• joyride
• hack

3

as in to push

to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one

drove the plunger into the opening

Synonyms & Similar Words

• push
• shove
• thrust
• propel
• move
• force
• squeeze
• jam
• bear (down)
• impel
• compel
• pressure
• compress
• weigh (upon)
• muscle
• depress
• lean (on or against)
• squash
• ram
• bulldoze

4

as in to force

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure

the corrupt governor was driven out of office

Synonyms & Similar Words

• force
• compel
• coerce
• oblige
• obligate
• pressure
• impel
• muscle
• constrain
• make
• impress
• press
• blackmail
• intimidate
• dragoon
• sandbag
• bully
• blackjack
• twist one's arm
• drag
• threaten
• cow
• bulldoze
• terrorize
• browbeat
• menace
• shame
• hector
• high-pressure
• harass
• badger
• hound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• permit
• allow
• move
• induce
• satisfy
• convince
• talk (into)
• argue
• win (over)
• persuade
• prevail (on or upon)

5

as in to activate

to cause to function

machinery driven by waterpower

Synonyms & Similar Words

• activate
• trigger
• spark
• power
• move
• generate
• fuel
• start
• set off
• run
• push
• ignite
• actuate
• provoke
• turn on
• crank (up)
• charge
• touch off
• fire
• launch
• trip
• stimulate
• switch
• electrify
• energize
• turn over
• release
• accelerate
• discharge
• kick over
• recharge
• reactivate
• stir up
• incite
• arouse
• excite
• instigate
• catalyze
• jump-start
• quicken
• speed (up)
• step up
• kick-start
• vitalize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cut
• kill
• stop
• shut off
• cut out
• check
• turn off
• brake
• stick
• cut off
• halt
• draw up
• arrest
• slow
• deactivate
• suppress
• stall
• jam
• repress
• decelerate
• stunt

6

as in to move

to set or keep in motion

this motor drives the gears, which then turn the shaft

Synonyms & Similar Words

• move
• activate
• work
• propel
• stimulate
• actuate
• trigger
• impel
• motivate
• raise
• provoke
• trip
• stir (up)
• set off
• incite
• whip (up)
• inspire
• fire (up)
• rouse
• ferment
• foment
• excite
• arouse
• galvanize
• abet
• instigate
• inflame

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• control
• check
• regulate
• restrain
• curb
• contain
• inhibit
• constrain
• rein (in)
• bridle

7

as in to travel

to proceed or move quickly

the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop

Synonyms & Similar Words

• travel
• speed
• race
• fly
• rush
• hurry
• chase
• scurry
• trot
• run
• jump
• zip
• scoot
• blow
• buzz
• step
• rip
• motor
• dash
• tear
• jog
• scuttle
• dart
• blast
• shoot
• ram
• zoom
• hustle
• bolt
• breeze
• course
• career
• hasten
• hurl
• jet
• rocket
• bowl
• whirl
• crack (on)
• belt
• hurtle
• hump
• hare
• blaze
• beat it
• whisk
• get a move on
• nip
• bundle
• careen
• barrel
• hie
• step on it
• gallop
• pelt
• rustle
• bustle
• make tracks
• highball
• bomb
• shake a leg
• accelerate
• flit
• cannonball
• hotfoot (it)
• streak
• scamper
• overtake
• sprint
• stampede
• beetle
• step out
• outrun
• whiz
• quicken
• catch up
• outpace
• outstrip
• scuffle
• scud
• arrow
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drag
• crawl
• creep
• poke
• hang (around or out)
• linger
• lag
• stroll
• poke
• loiter
• dawdle
• tarry
• saunter
• amble
• shuffle
• slow (down or up)
• lumber
• decelerate
• plod
• dillydally
• dally

drive

2 of 2

noun

1

as in road

a passage cleared for public vehicular travel

raced our motorcycles along the drive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• road
• highway
• freeway
• street
• route
• expressway
• thoroughfare
• roadway
• boulevard
• carriageway
• turnpike
• arterial
• way
• artery
• interstate
• causeway
• pass
• lane
• avenue
• drag
• pike
• thruway
• row
• motorway
• high road
• parkway
• trace
• bypass
• trail
• autobahn
• superhighway
• track
• corridor
• alley
• beltway
• byway
• switchback
• autostrada
• Main Street
• ring road
• dual carriageway
• secondary road
• close
• through street
• branch
• crossroad
• side street
• place
• side road
• dead end
• high street
• autoroute
• circle
• alleyway
• corniche
• shunpike
• laneway
• backstreet
• cul-de-sac
• mews
• bystreet

2

as in campaign

a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal

a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band

Synonyms & Similar Words

• campaign
• movement
• push
• crusade
• cause
• march
• initiative
• project
• blitz
• juggernaut
• attack
• maneuver
• bandwagon
• bid
• mission
• assault
• offensive
• enterprise
• action
• undertaking

3

as in desire

a strong wish for something

a drive to succeed in the television news business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• desire
• urge
• craving
• thirst
• longing
• hunger
• passion
• appetite
• yearning
• lust
• taste
• wish
• itch
• hankering
• need
• compulsion
• impulse
• yen
• will
• pining
• zeal
• love
• appetency
• liking
• thirstiness
• eagerness
• jones
• impatience
• letch
• want
• requirement
• impulsion
• obsession
• necessity
• weakness
• greed
• avarice
• acquisitiveness
• mania
• greediness
• rapacity
• cupidity
• avidity
• covetousness
• rapaciousness
• cacoëthes
• avariciousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hatred
• repulsion
• dislike
• disgust
• aversion
• distaste
• allergy
• nausea
• loathing
• revulsion
• repugnance
• abomination
• disinclination
• abhorrence
• indifference
• disfavor
• disliking
• apathy
• averseness
• nonchalance
• unconcern
• insouciance

4

as in energy

active strength of body or mind

senior citizens who exercise regularly are more likely to have the drive to keep up with their grandchildren

Synonyms & Similar Words

• energy
• vigor
• gas
• life
• juice
• go
• bounce
• pep
• dash
• power
• strength
• spirit
• stamina
• punch
• dynamism
• zip
• muscle
• beans
• zeal
• get-up-and-go
• vitality
• verve
• vinegar
• brio
• ginger
• oomph
• zing
• gusto
• starch
• esprit
• passion
• snap
• vim
• hardihood
• fire
• moxie
• sap
• fitness
• animation
• soundness
• spunk
• liveliness
• vivacity
• animal spirits
• fervor
• vibrancy
• might
• jauntiness
• health
• metal
• spiritedness
• briskness
• mettle
• sprightliness
• potency
• élan
• main
• ardor
• virility
• spunkiness
• vivaciousness
• snappiness
• wellness
• vibrance
• puissance
• hardiness
• sturdiness
• healthiness
• huskiness
• brawniness
• verdure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lethargy
• sluggishness
• laziness
• listlessness
• weakness
• indolence
• tenderness
• impotence
• exhaustion
• torpidity
• softness
• powerlessness
• disablement
• faintness
• feebleness
• debilitation
• impotency
• debility
• delicacy
• infirmity
• frailty
• prostration
• enfeeblement
• inanition
• puniness
• slightness
• enervation
• frailness

5

as in ambition

readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity

a great opportunity for a sales representative who is full of drive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambition
• initiative
• action
• go
• enterprise
• hustle
• aggressiveness
• spirit
• energy
• grit
• vigor
• pluck
• gumption
• spunk
• starch
• killer instinct
• pep
• assertiveness
• snap
• self-reliance
• vitality
• ambitiousness
• hardihood
• overambitiousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inertia
• reluctance
• inactivity
• passivity
• hesitation
• timidity
• diffidence
• lethargy
• laziness
• indolence
• faintheartedness

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb drive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of drive are actuate, impel, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

When might actuate be a better fit than drive?

The words actuate and drive can be used in similar contexts, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When would impel be a good substitute for drive?

While the synonyms impel and drive are close in meaning, impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When could move be used to replace drive?

In some situations, the words move and drive are roughly equivalent. However, move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

How does the verb drive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of drive are actuate, impel, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

When might actuate be a better fit than drive?

The words actuate and drive can be used in similar contexts, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When would impel be a good substitute for drive?

While the synonyms impel and drive are close in meaning, impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When could move be used to replace drive?

In some situations, the words move and drive are roughly equivalent. However, move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drive

Verb

Drucker’s team wanted to know if these clinical improvements were driven purely by weight loss or by lower inflammation as well. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 27 Apr. 2026

But the reality is that Africa’s richest man can’t single-handedly drive industrialization across the continent. —Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Noun

The commission repurposed material instead, using wooden ballot boxes and blue ink leftover from a vaccination drive last year. —Sam Metz, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026

Boston and New York City are also easily reached by a two-hour drive. —James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026