motive

Police said that 17 people were hurt, several with life-threatening injuries, and that a motive was still being investigated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

Authorities said the suspect is known to police and has ties to Islamist circles in Berlin but also stressed investigators have not yet determined a motive or whether he acted alone.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

Prosecutors also called to the stand Burke's former financial manager, Benjamin Greger, to illustrate his financial motive to protect his music career.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

IRS special agent Chris Seymour gave Thompson the first interview of his career, and what he and prosecutors say about Mizuhara’s motive goes beyond the narrative that he had a gambling addiction.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

I didn’t say it proved anything. 8TH JUROR: You said it revealed a motive for the killing.

From "Twelve Angry Men" by Reginald Rose

Confused about a character's motives or the historical setting?

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

How can we not wonder about ulterior motives?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

In Hamawy’s case, it led to suspicions about his past and true motives that was effective enough for his eventual primary win to be deemed “controversial.”

From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026

Sure, many other countries go to war with similar motives, fantasizing the conflicts are about freedom or religion or whatever.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

This new, halting relationship between two old enemies would demand more of the CIA and KGB, as America and Russia asked hard questions about each other's intentions—and motives.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

He called the “cottage industry” of allegations and conspiracy theories a “grim cyclorama of deceit and sensation” and said those promoting such tales were motived by money.

From New York Times ● Feb. 17, 2023

The indictment does not say that his expulsion motived his alleged misconduct.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 6, 2022

“I think that’s why I have useful expertise in trying to solve problems, and am motived to work hard with other stakeholders on consensus solutions.”

From Washington Post ● Oct. 23, 2017

Here are 21 inspiring quotes that will get you hyped up and keep you motived as an entrepreneur.

From Time ● Aug. 18, 2015

Here is faulty characterization in two respects: each change is not sufficiently motived; each does not accord with the characterization of Proteus and Valentine in the earlier scenes.

From Dramatic Technique by Baker, George Pierce

And through all the talk, through the busy routine of the place, in the men and women working in the hospital, there emerged always that something unseen,—Idea, Will, Spirit, the motiving force of the whole.

From Together by Herrick, Robert

But your Lamia has taught you some subtle 'viperine' reasoning and motiving, for the turning down one street instead of another.

From The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846 by Browning, Robert

Her conception of a play of passion forbids motiving of character, or integration of the development of character with action.

From Tragedy by Thorndike, Ashley H.