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motive

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun motive contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of motive are goad, impulse, incentive, inducement, and spur. While all these words mean "a stimulus to action," motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.

a motive for the crime

In what contexts can goad take the place of motive?

The synonyms goad and motive are sometimes interchangeable, but goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

When could impulse be used to replace motive?

The meanings of impulse and motive largely overlap; however, impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.

buying on impulse

When would incentive be a good substitute for motive?

The words incentive and motive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.

a bonus was offered as an incentive

When is inducement a more appropriate choice than motive?

Although the words inducement and motive have much in common, inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

When might spur be a better fit than motive?

In some situations, the words spur and motive are roughly equivalent. However, spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.

fear was a spur to action

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of motive
Noun
Police are interviewing Thompson's family and friends in Minnesota to see if anyone might have motive to kill him. Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024 White working-class New Yorkers increasingly felt not only alienated but also motived to express their dissatisfaction. Longreads, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
Even the social, nationalist conception was merely the extension of self-love to one’s community or one’s nation; to progress, humanity must transcend such selfish motives. Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2025 Those writings are being investigated as a motive of animosity Wohl had toward judges, police and prosecutors, according to Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Taylor Holland. Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for motive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motive
Noun
  • The report, citing people familiar with the matter, said a deal was far from certain.
    Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 25 June 2025
  • Legal Advice Clinic for Veterans: The Seminole County Legal Aid office hosts a free monthly legal advice clinic for veterans to get legal assistance with family law and housing law matters.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • If you’re all flowered out, try ocean motifs instead—think seashells, starfish, or your favorite aquatic animal.
    Catie Pusateri, Glamour, 17 June 2025
  • The silk suit with a jacquard motif of a siren, paying tribute to the Greek mythological Parthenope, proved the sartorial expertise of the brand.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Hval did not share a specific reason for the cancellation.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 1 July 2025
  • His present is extremely bright, and there’s no reason to expect near term slippage.
    Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Keke Palmer is addressing what motivated her and her team to pull the podcast interview with Jonathan Majors following public outcry.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 30 June 2025
  • Managers should foster a safe environment where employees feel valued and motivated to learn.
    Michael Hudson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Newcastle has rightly earned great credit for its success rate, but the common theme is all of those players have arrived with risk, liked by bigger clubs but crucially not enough to be poached by one of them.
    Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • The theme of this year's parade is United in Pride.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Abercrombie Linen-blend Skimming Shell Top Abercrombie is reinventing classic linen styles with unique silhouettes, like this open-back design.
    Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2025
  • The notches in the design harken back to the 2013 season and the Block Knights wordmark seen in the Bounce House end zone.
    Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Santos Neto thrived in his band from 1977 to 1992 before setting off to hone his own, similarly expansive, body of tunes.
    Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
  • Pulled along by Valérie like a recalcitrant puppy, Richard sets off on a quest to find the missing man, who may have ties to the Sicilian Mafia.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • Rice has been a hot-button topic in Japan, with surging prices and shortages leading to empty shelves in supermarkets across the country.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 26 June 2025
  • Throughout the hearing, Kobach advocated against the merits of climate public nuisance suits, using previous dismissals as evidence of the lack of feasibility of such claims, a topic which Sen. Cruz also discussed during his questioning.
    David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Motive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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