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Synonyms for motive

Grammar : Noun
Spell : moh-tiv
Phonetic Transcription : ˈmoʊ tɪv

Top 10 synonyms for motive
Other synonyms for the word motive

Définition of motive

Origin :
  • mid-14c., "something brought forward," from Old French motif "will, drive, motivation," noun use of adjective, literally "moving," from Medieval Latin motivus "moving, impelling," from Latin motus "a moving, motion," past participle of movere "to move" (see move (v.)). Meaning "that which inwardly moves a person to behave a certain way" is from early 15c.
  • noun reason, purpose
Example sentences :
  • What other motive they can have, is to us, at least, inconceivable.
  • Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
  • One can only motive and explain this suicide by self-immolating love.
  • Extract from : « The Man Shakespeare » by Frank Harris
  • It is a fault in art because it is impossible to motive it in a few lines.
  • Extract from : « The Man Shakespeare » by Frank Harris
  • Filial devotion to her father had been one motive, but not the only one.
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • In addition to this motive he felt an inclination to probe the matter to its utmost depths.
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • They could not understand the motive, and feared a stratagem.
  • Extract from : « The Story of the Malakand Field Force » by Sir Winston S. Churchill
  • My every action, word, thought, had my feeling for Rima as a motive.
  • Extract from : « Green Mansions » by W. H. Hudson
  • I will not deny that I was a ringleader in this affair, though I know I had no other motive than escape.
  • Extract from : « Ned Myers » by James Fenimore Cooper
  • But let me give you the motive, and then the action will follow of course.
  • Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
  • Whatever the motive for his masquerade, it was not to attract anything feminine.
  • Extract from : « It Happened in Egypt » by C. N. Williamson

Antonyms for motive

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019