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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
But in May, the Los Angeles City Council passed a measure urging the Police Commission, the LAPD’s policy-making body, to further limit arbitrary pull-overs for non-moving traffic violations. — Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Thomas Edison received a patent for his Kinetograph moving-picture camera. — USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
One theory holds that megaraptorans originated in Asia before moving west through Europe and eventually reaching Gondwana, the ancient southern landmass that included present-day South America, Africa, Antarctica, and Australia. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 London — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made their first joint public appearance in Britain since moving back to the country. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 15 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
  • The breakthrough was to make Bonnie’s loneliness the emotional engine.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Building an international band that includes Eiko Ishibashi, Jim O’Rourke, and a whistler, the Australian guitarist shapes longform spells of emotional and musical ambiguity.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of emotional
Verb
  • The newspaper operated out of a complex of commercial buildings at the corner of East 18th Street and Woodland Avenue, right in the heart of the historic 18th & Vine District, before relocating in 2021.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The canal authority has said that relocating the remains will be coordinated in advance with family members, with respect for religious beliefs, cultural sensitivities and emotional ties.
    — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of relocating
Verb
  • Biggs has accused the Hobbs administration of driving up home prices with stringent water requirements that stalled new buildings in parts of the Phoenix area.
    — Hannah Knowles The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • No amount of spending from whatever PAC source is driving it into the elections are going to change that dynamic.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of driving
Verb
  • The two built the models that modern central banks use to stabilize the economy, shifting macro policymakers’ focus from big economic variables like inflation and unemployment to the actual decisions of individuals.
    — Dario Marino, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The attorney characterized the company's earlier responses as providing limited information while shifting blame and responsibility to others.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of shifting
Verb
  • That can be normal in venture, where deals are attributed to top partners, but seems to be affecting women more.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, Harris, closer in age to his part than the women, moves and sounds like the old cowboys, with an affecting note of sorrow — the lion dying, and dying with regrets — sounding throughout his performance.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of affecting
Verb
  • In 2012 American entrepreneur Russ George spread roughly 100 tons of iron in the North Pacific, provoking international criticism that a commercial venture had begun geoengineering without adequate oversight.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The same principle applies to debates about religion, economics and virtually any subject capable of provoking strong emotions.
    — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of provoking
Verb
  • Janabi said one of the biggest challenges has been persuading those who are infected to seek medical assistance, adding that some deaths occur in the community outside of health centers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Both require making the right choices under pressure and persuading others to believe in them.
    — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of persuading
Verb
  • Semaglutide mimics its activity by activating GLP-1 receptors in the body.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The protease partially pulls a proton off the water molecule, activating it to attack and break up the peptide bond.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 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 22 Oct. 2026.

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