decrease motivation

USAGE SUMMARY

"decrease motivation" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used in a variety of contexts, such as describing the effects of certain actions or events on a person's level of motivation. Example: "Lack of recognition and job dissatisfaction can greatly decrease motivation among employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

And managers can either increase or decrease motivation for their teams.

The New York Times

Tom Sy's research also suggests that the bias against Asian leaders can decrease motivation to lead among Asian Americans, which can further exacerbate and reinforce the view that they're not suitable for leadership.

Harvard Business Review

Beyond detriment to the bottom line of the organization and the health of employees, alcohol and other drug use can affect the attitudes and culture of an organization, lower morale, and decrease motivation, engagement, and trust.

Harvard University

"A whole industry has risen up where there wasn't one before, and the irony is, as effective as a lot of it is, all this machinery of coaches and tutors can increase skill, but decrease motivation.

The New York Times

Let's acknowledge autumn can also decrease motivation as well as trigger low mood and energy levels.

HuffPost

At the same time, let's acknowledge autumn can also decrease motivation as well as trigger low mood and energy levels.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Optogenetically stimulating projections from the prefrontal cortex to the dorsal raphe nucleus (which is located in the midbrain and is the largest provider of serotonin to the brain) induced motivated behavior, while projections to the lateral habenula decreased motivation.

Cornell University

Working too much and never taking a break decreases motivation and focus.

Harvard Business Review

Similarly, the factor analysis showed that enrichment independently decreased motivation to interact with novel objects and humans.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

During SSB cessation, adolescents reported increased SSB cravings and headache and decreased motivation, contentment, ability to concentrate, and overall well-being (uncorrected Ps < 0.05).

Stanford University

When receiving text messages, RMQ precontemplation scores (desire to restrict) significantly increased, indicating decreased motivation; however, action scores (effort toward reducing dietary restraint) significantly increased, indicating increased motivation.

Behavior Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing factors that "decrease motivation", be specific about the causes and effects. Clearly articulate the link between the cause (e.g., lack of recognition) and the resulting decrease in motivation.

Common error

Avoid attributing a "decrease motivation" to vague reasons. Instead of saying "the new policy decreased motivation", specify which aspects of the policy led to this effect. For example: "The lack of clear goals in the new policy decreased motivation among the team members".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decrease motivation" functions as a verb-noun construction where "decrease" acts as a verb affecting the noun "motivation". This phrase typically serves to describe an action or influence that lessens the level of enthusiasm or drive.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decrease motivation" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, across diverse fields like science, news, and academia. It describes the act of reducing someone's enthusiasm or drive, often as a result of specific factors. When using this phrase, be specific about the causes and avoid generalizations to ensure clear communication. Alternatives such as "reduce motivation" and "lower motivation" offer similar meanings with subtle variations in emphasis. The phrase appears mostly in academic, scientific and news contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce motivation

Emphasizes a lessening or diminishing of motivational factors.

lower motivation

Implies a drop in the level or intensity of motivation.

diminish motivation

Suggests a gradual decline in motivational force.

undermine motivation

Highlights the act of weakening or sabotaging motivation.

sap motivation

Indicates the draining or depleting of motivational energy.

curtail motivation

Implies a restriction or limitation placed on motivation.

dampen enthusiasm

Focuses on reducing excitement and eagerness, a component of motivation.

discourage action

Shifts the focus to hindering the drive to act or perform.

weaken resolve

Emphasizes the erosion of determination and commitment.

kill the drive

A more informal and figurative way to express the complete loss of motivation.

FAQs

How can I use "decrease motivation" in a sentence?

You can use "decrease motivation" to describe factors that reduce someone's enthusiasm or drive, as in "Constant criticism can "decrease motivation" and lead to burnout".

What are some synonyms for "decrease motivation"?

Alternatives include "reduce motivation", "lower motivation", or "undermine motivation", depending on the context.

What causes might "decrease motivation" in the workplace?

Factors such as lack of recognition, poor management, unfair treatment, and unchallenging work can all "decrease motivation" in employees.

What's the difference between "decrease motivation" and "reduce enthusiasm"?

"Decrease motivation" is a broader term referring to a decline in the general drive to act, while "reduce enthusiasm" specifically refers to a lessening of excitement or eagerness.