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
One’s really good with forensics, the other is really good with motive and story.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
He’d had no motive for working hard academically, and he was deeply distracted by personal and familial problems and in full-blown rebellion almost every day of his high school life.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
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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