motive 1 of 2

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
After the murders, prosecutors said the two brothers’ motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings. Nicole Acosta, People.com, 14 May 2025 Their police team’s investigative skills are showcased through psychological tactics, with a focus on the motives and actions of criminals being pursued. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2025
Verb
White working-class New Yorkers increasingly felt not only alienated but also motived to express their dissatisfaction. Longreads, 3 Oct. 2024 The very last people who aren’t really motived to change any of this are the publishers themselves. Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 12 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for motive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motive
Noun
  • Pumpkins have high nutrient requirements and love soil with lots of organic matter, so for best results, amend the soil.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
  • Dale Ellis covers the federal courthouse beat for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, reporting on criminal and civil matters that impact Arkansans.
    Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • The motif of changelings—of fairies taking a human child and leaving a nonhuman child in its place—comes up throughout the story.
    Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 18 May 2025
  • There’s a motif about a horse that’s hard to make sense of other than the obvious: freedom lives everywhere else except in this woman’s life.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • During these inspections, travelers may be questioned or their electronic devices looked through as a way to confirm their identity and reasons for being in the U.S.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • At that, Tesla is reportedly sitting on $200 million worth of unsold Cybertruck models that can’t seem to find buyers for reasons that include being involved in multiple recalls, with the latest involving body panels randomly falling off the vehicle.
    Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Perry cites her brother John’s San Diego heavy-metal band, Kaos, for motivating her to pursue music early on.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
  • Tory Lanez was stabbed in prison this week, prompting many to question what motivated the attack.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Throughout their testimonies on Friday, there were common themes: The abuse was so traumatizing that those who are married haven’t shared what happened with their wives and pray their children will never learn the truth.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 May 2025
  • The latter two are themes the artist first discovered as a child at her grandmother’s house.
    Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • The cake pop features strawberry cream cake mixed with buttercream, dipped in a chocolatey icing and finished with a summer strawberry design.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • The buttons are eye-catching and polished, and the sleeveless design offers plenty of airflow to your arms.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • It’s been five years since George Floyd’s murder by a police officer in Minneapolis set off a wave of international protest and the Black Lives Matter movement.
    Cameron Joseph, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025
  • Without inside information, bettors probably suspected that others must know something about the next pope’s identity, setting off a stampede, Sethi concluded.
    Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.
    Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 22 May 2025
  • At international grocery stores throughout Charlotte, like Golden Elephant Asian Market and Wow Supermarket, rising prices and delays in orders caused by President Donald Trump’s tariffs remain the top topic of any conversation.
    Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Motive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motive. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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