motivator
noun
mo·ti·va·tor
ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-tər
plural motivators
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
… won a reputation as a leader and a motivator …—Leonard Silk
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
Cite this Entry
“Motivator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivator. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
