motive
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.
They said the suspected perpetrator had been arrested and that his "motive is under investigation".
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
District Judge Waverly Crenshaw called out the government’s motive in no uncertain terms.
From Slate • May 28, 2026
The new business would have to be legitimate, with a profit motive, “and not just a way to move money into an IRA for your child,” said Permashwar.
From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026
A commercial real estate broker, Nick Quackenbos, said the likely motive for such a price hike is plans to scrape the building and build apartments in its place.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
Days before he had told me how grateful he was for the support of whites, blacks, anyone who was prosperous—they all fell under his umbrella of WL—whether their motive was sacrifice, remorse, or even pity.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Vocabulary lists containing motive
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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Twelve Angry Men
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