motive in English

adjective

1

producing physical or mechanical motion.

the charge of gas is the motive force for every piston stroke

synonyms: kinetic, driving, impelling, propelling, propulsive, motor

2

causing or being the reason for something.

the motive principle of a writer's work

noun

1

a reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious.

a motive for his murder

synonyms: reason, motivation, motivating force, rationale, grounds, cause, basis, object, purpose, intention, incentive, inducement, incitement, lure, inspiration, stimulus, stimulation, spur

2

(in art, literature, or music) a motif.

the entire work grows organically from the opening horn motive

synonyms: motif, theme, idea, concept, subject, topic, leitmotif

adjective

kinetic, driving, impelling, propelling, propulsive, motor
motor
motivative, motivating

noun

reason, motif, motivation
reason, motivation, motivating force, rationale, grounds, cause, basis, object, purpose, intention, incentive, inducement, incitement, lure, inspiration, stimulus, stimulation, spur
motif, theme, idea, concept, subject, topic, leitmotif
motif
motivation, need

Use "motive" in a sentence

1. In any event , the profit motive should be subordinated to the social motive .

2. His motive was plain greed.

3. Do you impeach my motive?

4. Nothing mattered except the profit motive.

5. 2 Her prime motive was personal ambition.

6. Many crimes have a monetary profit motive.

7. A very important factor is motive.

8. Her prime motive was personal ambition.

9. I myself suspect a more prosaic motive.

10. The motive for the killing is unknown.

11. But they had another motive for their conspiracy.

12. What do you suppose the killer's motive was?

13. 16 Even so, the motive may prove inscrutable.

14. I believe they'd have some ulterior motive

15. What was his motive for doing that?

16. 12 Her prime motive was personal ambition.

17. Their motive was greed, pure and simple .

18. Well, now that we got motive all squared away...

19. There may be a hidden motive for his departure.

20. A strong motive forces one to surmount many difficulties.

21. 26 Jealousy was assigned as motive for the crime.

22. This is an excellent motive for being hospitable.

23. Could mean gang-related, revenge motive, personal business.

24. Right now, Andie just gives you another motive.

25. Perfect motive for him to forge those scripts.

26. Sexual jealousy is a common motive for murder.

27. His real motive for the crime remains obscure.

28. The capitalist system is based on the profit motive.

29. An overwhelmingly strong motive made the ship anchor there.

30. Jealousy was assigned as motive for the crime.

31. 9 He had to have an ulterior motive.

32. It is the nasty profit motive at play.

33. In the final analysis, profit is the motive.

34. “Follow Jesus With the Right Motive”: (10 min.)

35. Pathological liars tell Compulsive lies without a clear motive

36. There seemed to be no motive for the murder.

37. 17 There was no ulterior motive in his proposal.

38. Can we assign jealousy as the motive for the crime?

39. Some young men stormed Agip Platform with terrorism motive.

40. He claimed that his motive for stealing was hunger.

41. The logic is fundamentally flawed; the motive is despicable.

42. Cause definition is - a reason for an action or condition : motive

43. I have a big fat motive but no alibi.

44. The crime seemed to have been committed without motive.

45. Is there another motive for the ostensibly philanthropic venture?

46. 20 Sexual jealousy is a common motive for murder.

47. The motive of the executions would be to instil fear.

48. His motive for working so hard is that he needs money.

49. This motive had been a stock-in-trade of medieval art.

50. Why would she have killed him? She has no motive.