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motive

[moh-tiv] / ˈmoʊ tɪv /


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.

See Examples For:

The lawsuit’s motive matches allegations that prosecutors have made in court filings and at Burke’s preliminary hearing in July.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 8, 2026

There may be a baser motive at play: money.

From Slate Sep. 4, 2026

The motive of the killings remains a mystery.

From Barron's Aug. 20, 2026

Patterson's team say they were inconsistent about a motive, starting the trial by saying they wouldn't argue a particular motive, but ending it by implying there was one.

From BBC Aug. 17, 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

For a moment, let’s put aside conspiracy theories about the motives of Anthropic’s AI warnings, and take them at face value.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 13, 2026

"The motives vary, including financial gain," said Iman Imanuddin, criminal investigation director for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, during an August 7 press conference.

From Barron's Sep. 3, 2026

Critics, however, came from the left as well as right, targeting Steinem for everything from her looks to her motives.

From BBC Sep. 3, 2026

That possibility gives historians a new way to interpret the AKL and the political motives behind it.

From Science Daily Aug. 26, 2026

Vasiljevic’s plans concerning Bobby always contained ulterior motives.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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

From Seattle Times Nov. 6, 2022

“I said my philosophy is motived by the Beatitudes and by Matthew 25:40 about the ‘least of these,’” Mr. Kennedy recounted.

From New York Times Oct. 24, 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

Hence we could treat a very large part of the modern development of social control as motived by the desire for a more effective liberty.

From Liberalism by L. T. (Leonard Trelawny) Hobhouse

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 Robert Herrick

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

From Tragedy by Ashley H. Thorndike

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 Robert Browning




Vocabulary lists containing motive


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