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.
Their motive, she claims, was discriminatory bias and a piece of legislation she wrote that law enforcement agencies did not like.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
According to Ortiz’s statement, Hatley provided the same motive to him that she had given her friend Hardee: With Cynthia out of the way, Ortiz would come back to her.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
The motive behind the apparent plot was not immediately clear.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
Tom has a more pressing motive than soothing petulance over illustrations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 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
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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