motive Synonyms

motive Meaning

Wordnet

motive (n)

the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior

a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music

a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration

Wordnet

motive (s)

causing or able to cause motion

impelling to action

Webster

motive (n.)

That which moves; a mover.

That which incites to action; anything prompting or exciting to choise, or moving the will; cause; reason; inducement; object.

The theme or subject; a leading phrase or passage which is reproduced and varied through the course of a comor a movement; a short figure, or melodic germ, out of which a whole movement is develpoed. See also Leading motive, under Leading.

That which produces conception, invention, or creation in the mind of the artist in undertaking his subject; the guiding or controlling idea manifested in a work of art, or any part of one.

Webster

motive (a.)

Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power.

Webster

motive (v. t.)

To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

motive Sentence Examples

  1. The suspect's motive for the crime remains a mystery to investigators.
  2. The motive behind the kidnapping was to extort money from the victim's family.
  3. The corporation's motive for downsizing was to increase profitability.
  4. The motive for the politician's resignation was to avoid a corruption scandal.
  5. The scientist's motive for continuing the research was to find a cure for the disease.
  6. The motive for the break-in was theft, as valuable items were stolen from the house.
  7. The motive for the protest was to raise awareness about social injustice.
  8. The motive for the loan application was to finance a new business venture.
  9. The motive for the lawsuit was to seek compensation for damages suffered.
  10. The motive for joining the club was to socialize and make new friends.

FAQs About the word motive

the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavio

theme, topic,matter, motif, subject, question, essence,content, purpose, problem

tangent,aside, tangent, digression, parenthesis, aside, digression, excursion, parenthesis, excursion

The suspect's motive for the crime remains a mystery to investigators.

The motive behind the kidnapping was to extort money from the victim's family.

The corporation's motive for downsizing was to increase profitability.

The motive for the politician's resignation was to avoid a corruption scandal.