as in incentives
something that arouses action or activity
fear of failing should be plenty of motivation to study for the test
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Recent Examples of motivations
There are other motivations left, too.
—
Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Everyone has different health goals and motivations.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 24 Apr. 2026
My motivations have to be right.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
The senators' letter probes the potential political motivations of the investigation.
—Matt Peterson,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Hepting, who has since retired from her post at the county, disputed Simasko’s depiction of her motivations in a message to ProPublica.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
The message came as White House staff circulated updates about correspondence between Willis and House Judiciary Committee Republicans, who were investigating possible political motivations behind her prosecution.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2026
The United States’ motivations and war aims also remain unclear and have been prone to change.
—Carla Martinez MacHain, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Swapping numbers can result from different motivations, Mann explained.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Everyone has different health goals and motivations.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 24 Apr. 2026
My motivations have to be right.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026
The senators' letter probes the potential political motivations of the investigation.
—Matt Peterson,emily Wilkins, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Hepting, who has since retired from her post at the county, disputed Simasko’s depiction of her motivations in a message to ProPublica.
—Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026
The message came as White House staff circulated updates about correspondence between Willis and House Judiciary Committee Republicans, who were investigating possible political motivations behind her prosecution.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2026
The United States’ motivations and war aims also remain unclear and have been prone to change.
—Carla Martinez MacHain, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Swapping numbers can result from different motivations, Mann explained.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motivations
Noun
-
In response, Baltimore City officials created programs to boost affordable housing in various ways, including incentives to transform vacant homes.—
Lily Carey,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
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Some content creators are compensated, and this also creates problematic incentives in the system.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
All through the park, competitors and onlookers hit vapes and shout tips and encouragements into trees.—
Calin Van Paris,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
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In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motivations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motivations. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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