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motives

NOUN

reason, purpose

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aim cause consideration emotion feeling idea impulse influence intent intention motivation passion rationale

STRONG

antecedent basis design determinant drive end grounds incentive incitement inducement inspiration mainspring object occasion root spring spur stimulus thinking

Antonyms

STRONGEST

neglect thoughtlessness

STRONG

discouragement hindrance

WEAK

deterrent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

OpenAI's legal team has questioned Musk's own financial motives.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

His motives are clearly driven by revenge, and not because he truly thinks anyone has broken the law.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

"So it's not crazy to think his motives might be a little suspect here. Even the judge in this case, Judge Gonzalez Rogers, has called this out."

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

His motives, Mr. Hemming concludes, were neither for gold nor aggrandizement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Landowners and their sympathizers were glad to have Lucius and Fulvia involved, regardless of what their motives might be.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby