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| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | reason, purpose |
| Synonyms: | aim, antecedent, basis, cause, consideration, design, determinant, drive, emotion, end, feeling, grounds, idea, impulse, incentive, incitement, inducement, influence, inspiration, intent, intention, mainspring, motivation, object, occasion, passion, rationale, root, spring, spur, stimulus, thinking |
| Antonyms: | deterrent, discouragement, hindrance |
| Main Entry: | provocation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | incitement, stimulus |
| Synonyms: | affront, annoyance, bothering, brickbat, casus belli, cause, challenge, dare, defy, grabber, grievance, grounds, harassment, incentive, indignity, inducement, injury, instigation, insult, irking, justification, motivation, offense, provoking, reason, taunt, vexation, vexing |
| Antonyms: | prevention, repression, suppression |
| Main Entry: | reason |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | intention, aim |
| Synonyms: | antecedent, argument, basis, cause, consideration, design, determinant, end, goal, grounds, idea, impetus, incentive, inducement, motivation, motive, object, occasion, proof, purpose, rationale, root, spring, target, ulterior motive, warrant, wherefore, why, why and wherefore, whyfor |
| Main Entry: | spur |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | incitement, stimulus |
| Synonyms: | activation, actuation, catalyst, excitant, goad, goose, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, inducement, motivation, motive, needle, prick, stimulant, trigger, turn-on, urge |
| Antonyms: | curb, hindrance |
| Main Entry: | stimulant |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | substance that invigorates |
| Synonyms: | analeptic, bracer, catalyst, drug, energizer, excitant, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, incitement, motivation, motive, pick-me-up, restorative, reviver, shot in the arm, spark plug, spur, stimulus, tonic, upper |
| Notes: | a stimulant is a drug; a stimulus is anything encouraging an action (but rarely is it a drug) |
| Antonyms: | depressant |
| Main Entry: | stimulus |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | provocation |
| Synonyms: | bang*, boost, catalyst, cause, charge, encouragement, eye-opener, fillip, fireworks*, flash*, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, incitement, inducement, instigation, invitation, kick*, motivation, motive, piquing, propellant, push, shot in the arm, spur, stimulant, stimulation, sting*, turn-on, urging |
| Notes: | a stimulant is a drug; a stimulus is anything encouraging an action (but rarely is it a drug) |
| Antonyms: | discouragement, hindrance, tranquilizer |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | urge |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | very strong desire |
| Synonyms: | appetite, appetition, compulsion, craving, drive, druthers, fancy, fire in belly, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, itch, longing, lust, motive, passion, pressure, stimulant, stimulus, sweet tooth, weakness, wish, yearning, yen |
| Antonyms: | dislike, hate |
| Main Entry: | incitement |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | motive |
| Synonyms: | incentive, incitation, instigation, provocation, stimulus |
| Main Entry: | instigation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | prompting |
| Synonyms: | abetment, encouragement, incentive, incitement, influence, stimulation, urging |
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
