1
as in matter
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition)
the principal motive of the piece was introduced in the flute section
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing
the detective felt that the first suspect didn't have any motive for committing the crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to motivate
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of motive
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2026
And yet, the details behind the case have started to take shape, even if no suspect has been identified and no motive has been disclosed.
—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
30 June 2026
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
The move was motived not by personal desires but rather by the chance to make teeing off a more seamless experience for today’s golfing guests.
—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for motive
Noun
Details of a motive were not released, and investigators did not say if the suspect and victim were acquainted.
—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2026
And yet, the details behind the case have started to take shape, even if no suspect has been identified and no motive has been disclosed.
—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
30 June 2026
Verb
Prosecutors have said Mangione's notebook entries speak to motive.
—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
The move was motived not by personal desires but rather by the chance to make teeing off a more seamless experience for today’s golfing guests.
—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for motive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motive
Noun
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The news comes as Lackland Air Force Base in Texas — home to the Air Force's Basic Military Training program — grapples with a flu outbreak that has infected 275 people in recent weeks, a congressional staffer with knowledge of the matter told CBS News.
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To make matters worse, microbiome testing has gotten cheaper and faster, but not more accurate.
Noun
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Many of the specials sport a red, white and blue motif or other celebratory branding.
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The hotel’s design, by Stonehill Taylor, marries New England iconography with Asian motifs that ring true to Raffles’ origins in Singapore.
Noun
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But this also is among the reasons her books are considered must-reads in the classroom, and contemporary classics.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines in 2025 for a number of reasons.
Verb
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Mars activates your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, motivating you to tackle sensitive matters with courage and protect what truly matters.
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However, researchers say the date at which a person joined can indicate whether it was ideologically motivated.
Noun
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Its summer program is built as a four or five-day series, with each two-hour session focused on a theme like pastry-making or global flavors.
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The first box was the Snack Blind Box, and the second box was the Fiber Blind Box, meaning Wednesday's drop will be one of the other two themes.
Noun
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The white floral print channels the actress’s effortless aesthetic, and the easy-to-style design can be paired with tank tops, T-shirts, or even worn as a strapless swimsuit cover-up for beach days and vacations.
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That design allows researchers to position the ion with greater flexibility while making weak oscillating fields easier to detect.
Noun
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And whereas Fischer described without judgment the family patterns, social customs, and religious lineage of his four groups, Reynolds contrasts his two on ideological and ultimately moral grounds.
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Aberdeen Proving Grounds are, in effect, Akehurst’s grounds to care for.
Verb
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With the country cash-strapped, the Arab Spring of 2011 set off a wave of mass migration into Europe, which coincided with the widespread perception that the extra numbers were placing further strains on already creaking resources of jobs, housing and healthcare.
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Prosecutors said that the group launched a premeditated terror attack on the detention facility inspired by antifa ideology, by setting off fireworks, vandalizing property, and shooting at police officers who responded.
Cite this Entry
“Motive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motive. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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