Motivation

Latest answer — August 10, 2026

54 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

Drive is motivation or determination—the force that impels someone to pursue a goal. The clue uses the figurative sense, not a trip in a car.

Clue type:
Definition
A determined person working toward a goal.

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Monday, August 10, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Train for a boxing match
  2. 5Love deeply
  3. 10Follow directions
  4. 14"Beloved" novelist Morrison
  5. 15Kitchen gadget for apples
  6. 16Locale
  7. 17Bygone GM division
  8. 18"Understood"
  9. 19Prize grabber in an arcade game
  10. 20Formal event attended in costume
  11. 23Like a parent at graduation
  12. 24"Man of Steel" director Zack
  13. 25Geological span
  14. 27Scissors sound
  15. 30Wimbledon org.
  16. 33Last film starring Daniel Craig as James Bond
  17. 39Cardamom-infused tea
  18. 41Subscribe again
  19. 42Turn down
  20. 43Official record on a ship
  21. 46Broke bread
  22. 47Trace of smoke
  23. 48Baby goat
  24. 50Humiliated
  25. 55Walkie-talkie, e.g.
  26. 59Call for action, or what one might say before using the ends of 20-, 33-, and 43-Across
  27. 62College admissions office offering
  28. 63Garden pest
  29. 64Hideout
  30. 65Bilingual cartoon explorer
  31. 66Kitchen gadget for flour
  32. 67Poker buy-in
  33. 68"Don't come any closer!"
  34. 69Cuts (down)
  35. 70Talk back to

Down

  1. 1Tread heavily
  2. 2__ opposites
  3. 3"Consequently ... "
  4. 4Racy
  5. 5Zoning unit
  6. 6Opportunities, metaphorically
  7. 7Church instrument with pipes
  8. 8Like the sound of an oboe
  9. 9Made a blunder
  10. 10Nomination from the Academy
  11. 11Bar tab, e.g.
  12. 12List-shortening abbr.
  13. 13Source of some flexible wood
  14. 21Thick Japanese noodle
  15. 22Breezy email sign-off
  16. 26Sushi wrapper
  17. 28Brainchild
  18. 29Ice cream purchase
  19. 30UNC's athletic gp.
  20. 31Defrost
  21. 32Big __: David Ortiz nickname
  22. 34Perfect score in diving, or half a score
  23. 35Connections
  24. 36EGOT-winning Brooks
  25. 37Furry "Star Wars" creature
  26. 38Potato spot
  27. 40"We've been duped!"
  28. 44Emer. alerts
  29. 45"You go, __!"
  30. 49Texas city known as "Big D"
  31. 51Audibly shocked
  32. 52Vintage photo tone
  33. 53Early anesthetic
  34. 54Motivation
  35. 56Taurasi who holds the WNBA record for career points
  36. 57Monogram pts.
  37. 58Fairy tale baddies
  38. 59Stolen goods
  39. 60Capital of France?
  40. 61Poems of tribute
  41. 62QB stats

The answer to “Motivation” in the The Washington Post crossword is DRIVE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 10, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 54-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Motivation” answer

DRIVE (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is DRIVE.

What does DRIVE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of DRIVE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(verb)

  • operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle
  • propel or carry along by force in a specified direction
  • urge or force (animals or people) to move in a specified direction

When else has “Motivation” appeared?

The Washington Post reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 10, 2026 (most recent) → DRIVE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Motivation”?

The answer is DRIVE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 10, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Motivation”?

5 letters: DRIVE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on August 10, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 54-Down.

Can “Motivation” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for August 10, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

Crossword Clues

Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.