motivator

noun

mo·​ti·​va·​tor ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-tər How to pronounce motivator (audio)
plural motivators
: one that motivates or impels someone or something
a subconscious motivator of behavior
: such as
a
: a factor or situation that causes people to feel motivated to do something : incentive
Only a fool, though, would deny that money is a very real and basic need and, of course, a motivator of sorts.Robert W. Corl
Exercising with someone else … can be a motivator.Joanne Lannin
Andre Harris, without basketball as a motivator, had slipped back into bad habits academically.John Feinstein
b
: a person who motivates others
But Romo's not an enabler; he's a motivator, says [Jessica] Simpson. "If I'm not feeling good about myself, he'll say, 'Get your butt up and go to the gym then!'"Michelle Tan

Examples of motivator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Analysts say this is basically code for the confrontational situation with the U.S. Qiang stated that authorities are taking steps to stimulate domestic demand and that tariffs are a motivator to promote high-tech development and expand relations with other countries. Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025 Burnes has called Arizona home since 2018, and the prospect of being closer to his wife and three young children proved to be a motivator. D.j. Short, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2025 Ambition is a great motivator, but being blinded by desire might also lead to self-implosion. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025 Organizers cite their opposition to Trump's recent executive actions, including changes to immigration policy and federal agency restructuring, as key motivators for the upcoming protests. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for motivator

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motivator was in 1909

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Motivator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivator. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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