| Main Entry: | motivation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | ambition, inspiration |
Synonyms: |
action, actuation, angle, catalyst, desire, disposition, drive, encouragement, fire, get up and go, gimmick, goose, hunger, impetus, impulse, impulsion, incentive, incitation, incitement, inclination, inducement, instigation, interest, kick*, motive, persuasion, predetermination, predisposition, provocation, push, reason, right stuff, spur, stimulus, suggestion, wish |
Antonyms: |
depression, discouragement |
| Main Entry: | ax to grind |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | hidden motive |
Synonyms: |
agenda, driving force, hidden agenda, incentive, motivation, motive, reason, score to settle |
| Main Entry: | catalyst |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | something which incites activity |
Synonyms: |
adjuvant, agitator, enzyme, goad, impetus, impulse, incendiary, incentive, incitation, incitement, motivation, radical stimulus, reactant, reactionary, spark plug, spur, stimulant, synergist, wave maker |
Antonyms: |
block, blockage, preventer, prevention |
| Main Entry: | cause |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | agent, originator |
Synonyms: |
account, agency, aim, antecedent, author, basis, beginning, causation, consideration, creator, determinant, doer, element, end, explanation, foundation, genesis, ground, grounds, incitement, inducement, instigation, leaven, mainspring, maker, matter, motivation, motive, object, occasion, origin, prime mover, principle, producer, purpose, root, source, spring, stimulation |
Antonyms: |
consequence, development, effect, end, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, product, result |
| Main Entry: | drive |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | person's will to achieve |
Synonyms: |
ambition, clout, effort, energy, enterprise, fire in belly, get-up-and-go, goods*, gumption*, guts*, impellent, impetus, impulse, initiative, momentum, motivation, motive, moxie*, pep, pressure, punch*, push*, right stuff, spunk*, steam, stuff*, vigor, vitality, what it takes, zip |
| Main Entry: | excitement |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | enthusiasm; incitement |
Synonyms: |
action, activity, ado, adventure, agitation, animation, bother, buzz*, commotion, confusion, discomposure, disturbance, dither, drama, elation, emotion, excitation, feeling, ferment, fever, flurry, frenzy, furor, fuss, heat*, hubbub, hullabaloo*, hurry, hysteria, impulse, instigation, intoxication, kicks, melodrama, motivation, motive, movement, passion, perturbation, provocation, rage, stimulation, stimulus, stir, thrill, titillation, to-do, trepidation, tumult, turmoil, urge, warmth, wildness |
Antonyms: |
apathy, boredom, calm, calmness, dullness, lull, peace |
| Main Entry: | goad |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stimulus |
Synonyms: |
catalyst, compulsion, desire, drive, impetus, impulse, impulsion, incentive, incitation, incitement, irritation, lash, lust, motivation, passion, pressure, prod, spur, urge, whip, zeal |
Antonyms: |
deterrent, discouragement, diversion, restraint |
| Main Entry: | impetus |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | stimulus, force |
Synonyms: |
catalyst, energy, goad, impulse, impulsion, incentive, incitation, incitement, momentum, motivation, power, pressure, push, spur, stimulant, urge |
Antonyms: |
block, check, hindrance |
| Main Entry: | impulse |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | drive, resolve |
Synonyms: |
actuation, appeal, bent, caprice, catalyst, desire, disposition, excitant, extemporization, fancy, feeling, flash*, goad, hunch, impellent, impulsion, incitation, incitement, inclination, influence, inspiration, instinct, itch, lash, lust, mind, motivation, motive, notion, passion, spontaneity, spur, thought, urge, vagary, whim, whimsy, wish, yen |
| Main Entry: | incentive |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | lure, inducement |
Synonyms: |
allurement, bait, carrot, catalyst, come-on, consideration, determinant, drive, encouragement, enticement, excuse, exhortation, goad, ground, impetus, impulse, incitement, influence, insistence, inspiration, instigation, motivation, motive, persuasion, provocation, purpose, rationale, reason, reason why, spring, spur, stimulant, stimulation, stimulus, temptation, urge, whip |
| Notes: | the temporal orientation of incentive is toward the future; that of inducement is toward the past |
Antonyms: |
block, hindrance, turn-off |