motivational
Americanadjective
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of or relating to motivation, a person's reason for acting in a certain way.
The research investigated the motivational factors influencing people’s decision to volunteer with community organizations.
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inspiring or seeking to inspire people to act in a certain way, especially so as to overcome obstacles and achieve success, happiness, etc..
He mentors inner city youth, telling his motivational story at local schools.
Since her diagnosis, she has become an HIV/AIDS educator, motivational speaker, and activist.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of motivational
Explanation
Anything motivational makes you want to do something — or at least be willing to do it. When you're training your dog, the treats in your pocket can be used as motivational tools. If someone gives a motivational speech, their purpose is to try to get people excited about doing or trying something. A football coach's motivational talk to his team, for example, is intended to inspire the players to win the game. In other words, what the coach says motivates the team to play well. Both motivate and motivational come from the Old French motif, "drive or motivation," from motivus, "moving" in Medieval Latin.
Vocabulary lists containing motivational
The Poet X
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With the Fire on High
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Promises to Keep
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Johnson’s public comments are usually motivational gems such as “When you face a crisis, you know who your true friends are.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
“We’re offering an evidence-based approximation, not a number to plan an estate around,” said Stewart, who’s 67 but could easily pass for early 50s, and has the poise of a motivational speaker.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Then we tumble into the realm of inspirational gurus and thought leaders, where breathwork and manifesting meet motivational speak, popping with familiar verbal kernels like “sparking joy” and “habit formation.”
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Wanting is the motivational pull towards something; liking is the pleasure of having it.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
“What, did you get that off of a motivational poster in your counselor’s office, Roycroft?” says Jacqui.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
