MOTIVATE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for MOTIVATE?

Need another word that means the same as “motivate”? Find 25 synonyms and 30 related words for “motivate” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Motivate” are: actuate, incite, move, prompt, propel, drive, inspire, stimulate, influence, lead, persuade, activate, impel, push, spur, spur on, encourage, galvanize, arouse, rouse, excite, stir, stir up, fire with enthusiasm, fire the imagination of

Motivate as a Verb

Definitions of "Motivate" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “motivate” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Cause (someone) to have interest in or enthusiasm for something.
• Provide (someone) with a reason for doing something.
• Request (something) and present facts and arguments in support of one's request.
• Give an incentive for action.

Synonyms of "Motivate" as a verb (25 Words)

activate	Make (substances) radioactive. Activate a metal.
actuate	Put in motion or move to act. The defendants were actuated by malice.
arouse	Evoke or awaken (a feeling, emotion, or response. This movie usually arouses the male audience.
drive	Be licensed or competent to drive a motor vehicle. Drive the ball far out into the field.
encourage	Inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to. The intention is to encourage new writing talent.
excite	Cause to be agitated excited or roused. Excite the audience.
fire the imagination of	Destroy by fire.
fire with enthusiasm	Provide with fuel.
galvanize	Cover with zinc. Galvanized into action.
impel	Urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate. A lack of equality impelled the oppressed to fight.
incite	Give an incentive for action. He incited loyal subjects to rebellion.
influence	Have and exert influence or effect. Government regulations can influence behaviour but often without changing underlying values and motivations.
inspire	Give rise to. The film was successful enough to inspire a sequel.
lead	Lead extend or afford access. The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing.
move	Cause to move or shift into a new position or place both in a concrete and in an abstract sense. Her fate moved us all.
persuade	Win approval or support for. Health boards were finally persuaded of the desirability of psychiatric units.
prompt	Encourage (a hesitating speaker) to say something. The online form prompts users for data.
propel	Give an incentive for action. A rocket propelled grenade launcher.
push	Make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby. She pushed her glass towards him.
rouse	Cause to be agitated excited or roused. She d just stay a few more minutes then rouse herself and go back.
spur	Prune in a side shoot of a plant so as to form a spur close to the stem. The Academy was formed to spur research.
spur on	Give heart or courage to.
stimulate	Encourage or arouse interest or enthusiasm in. The women are given fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries.
stir	Stir the feelings emotions or peace of. A voice stirred her from her reverie.
stir up	Mix or add by stirring.

Usage Examples of "Motivate" as a verb

• He was primarily motivated by the desire for profit.
• He said he would motivate funds to upgrade the food stalls.
• It is the teacher's job to motivate the child at school.

Associations of "Motivate" (30 Words)

agitative	Tending to agitate or move (something); involving agitation.
animate	Belonging to the class of nouns that denote living beings. Animated cartoons.
arousal	Mutual sexual fondling prior to sexual intercourse. Sexual arousal in dreams is common.
arouse	Stimulate sexually. This movie usually arouses the male audience.
catalyst	Something that causes an important event to happen. The prime minister s speech acted as a catalyst for debate.
catalyze	Change by catalysis or cause to catalyze.
deed	Convey or transfer property or rights by legal deed. Doing good deeds.
elate	Fill with high spirits; fill with optimism. While the wealth of wildlife elated me it unnerved me as well.
encourage	Give support, confidence, or hope to (someone. We were encouraged by the success of this venture.
energize	Give vitality and enthusiasm to. People were energized by his ideas.
enkindle	Arouse or inspire (an emotion. Fresh remembrance of vexation must still enkindle rage.
enliven	Make lively. The visit had clearly enlivened my mother.
excitation	Something that agitates and arouses. Two parallel coils with opposing excitation windings.
excite	Cause to be agitated excited or roused. Flying still excites me.
exhort	Spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts. I exhorted her to be a good child.
hearten	Make more cheerful or confident. She was heartened to observe that the effect was faintly comic.
incite	Encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behaviour. Incite a riot.
induce	Bring on (the birth of a baby) artificially, typically by the use of drugs. None of these measures induced a change of policy.
inflame	Become inflamed get sore. The repetitive motion inflamed her joint.
inspire	Fill with revolutionary ideas. He inspired his students with a vision of freedom.
instigate	Provoke or stir up. They instigated a reign of terror.
instigation	Deliberate and intentional triggering (of trouble or discord. The Domesday Survey was compiled at the instigation of William I.
invigorate	Make lively. The cold water invigorated him.
invoke	Summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic. She invoked an ancient law.
provoke	Evoke or provoke to appear or occur. Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple.
spur	Goad with spurs. Wars act as a spur to practical invention.
stimulate	Provide the needed stimulus for. This herbal infusion doesn t stimulate.
stimulation	The effect of a stimulus (on nerves or organs etc. The stimulation of a revolution in intelligence affairs.
stir	Mix or add by stirring. As he grew older he seldom stirred from his club.
urge	Encourage (a person or animal) to move more quickly or in a particular direction. Sexual urges.