moving 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmü-viŋ How to pronounce moving (audio)
Definition of movingnext
as in emotional
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies he gave a truly moving graduation speech that had some graduates in tears

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

moving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of move
1
as in relocating
to change the place or position of I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in driving
to set or keep in motion the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shifting
to change one's position don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in affecting
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response we were deeply moved by the program of patriotic music

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5
as in provoking
to rouse to strong feeling or action the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously

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6
as in persuading
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests the report moved me to change my mind about the issue

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7
as in activating
to cause to function this one button moves the whole machine

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8
as in exiting
to leave a place often for another the police officer told the loiterers to move along

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word moving distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of moving are affecting, impressive, pathetic, poignant, and touching. While all these words mean "having the power to produce deep emotion," moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

How do affecting and moving relate to one another?

Affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

In what contexts can impressive take the place of moving?

While in some cases nearly identical to moving, impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

When can pathetic be used instead of moving?

The meanings of pathetic and moving largely overlap; however, pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

When could poignant be used to replace moving?

The words poignant and moving are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

When would touching be a good substitute for moving?

In some situations, the words touching and moving are roughly equivalent. However, touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of moving
Adjective
Thomas Edison received a patent for his Kinetograph moving-picture camera. — USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 One of Bourdain’s most moving reflections on fatherhood came in a 2013 essay for The Guardian. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
Gamers also get a native 165Hz refresh rate, VRR up to 288Hz, and plenty of horsepower for fast-moving action. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 But moving toward significant and tangible findings in the field likely requires integrating the AI models into hands-on lab work through robotics. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for moving
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moving
  1. emotional
  2. relocating
  3. driving
  4. shifting
  5. affecting
  6. provoking
  7. persuading
  8. activating
Adjective
  • Mercury in your 8th House quincunxes Saturn in your sign, bringing private concerns, trust, money, or emotional expectations up against your personal limits.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Combining comedy and emotional depth with neurodiversity representation at its core, the film, which reached over 4 million viewers on its release on ARD, is an uplifting story of family, second chances and connection.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of emotional
Verb
  • The family lived in Turner, Maine, before relocating to Buckfield.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The prologue starts in 1986 in Newfoundland with a family relocating, uprooting their lives in the most all-encompassing of ways, taking their entire home — propped up on a barge and steered by a lone motorboat — across a bay.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of relocating
Verb
  • Customers, especially younger generations who on average drink substantially less, are driving the demand.
    — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026
  • And on Sunday — despite driving with an impressive desperation (that included a heated Stage 2 exchange with his crew chief over the radio) — a few mistakes followed him.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of driving
Verb
  • Results from consumer goods and aviation majors typically offer an early read on shifting fuel expenses, freight costs, and end consumer demand.
    — , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Climate volatility, shifting regulatory pressures and economic uncertainty are rapidly transforming cotton farming from a traditional agricultural endeavor into a complex, high-stakes business challenge.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of shifting
Verb
  • Mattel went through several rounds of layoffs over the course of 2025 and into 2026, ultimately affecting nearly 300 employees at the company’s El Segundo headquarters.
    — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The president and his allies have warned that legal hurdles and uncertainty affecting key projects could dampen investor confidence.
    — Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of affecting
Verb
  • From this format emerges the tacit thesis that the Bicentennial cultural activities excelled at provoking critical, imaginative reflections on America’s past and future from artmakers and from ordinary citizens alike.
    — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This year, the event will once again feature panels, thought-provoking conversations, roundtables, networking opportunities and activations, along with the celebrated Billboard En Vivo performances.
    — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • The company’s reputation was built partly on persuading audiences to take chances on inexpensive, surprising horror outings — often with little more than a compelling premise to go on.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Campaigns are entering a crucial stretch for persuading the independent voters who will probably determine outcomes in swing races.
    — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of persuading
Verb
  • Hawaii officials had told residents to put together emergency kits, and the governor issued an emergency proclamation, activating more than 230 Hawaii National Guard members.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Given Serra’s representation of Shift, the work is both an object in time and a device for activating time as a correlative of space.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of activating

Phrases Containing moving

Browse Nearby Words

movies
moving
moving picture
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Cite this Entry

“Moving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moving. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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