MOTIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for MOTIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “motive”? Find 33 synonyms and 30 related words for “motive” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Motive” are: motivation, need, motif, reason, rationale, grounds, cause, basis, occasion, thinking, the whys and wherefores, object, purpose, intention, design, theme, idea, concept, subject, topic, leitmotif, trope, element, motivating, motivative, motor, kinetic, driving, impelling, propelling, propulsive, operative, moving

Motive as a Noun

Definitions of "Motive" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “motive” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music.
• A reason for doing something.
• The psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior.
• A motif in art, literature, or music.
• A design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration.

Synonyms of "Motive" as a noun (23 Words)

basis	The system or principles according to which an activity or process is carried on. She needed coaching on a regular basis.
cause	Reasonable grounds for doing, thinking, or feeling something. They are trying to determine the cause of the crash.
concept	An idea or mental image which corresponds to some distinct entity or class of entities, or to its essential features, or determines the application of a term (especially a predicate), and thus plays a part in the use of reason or language. A concept car for next month s Geneva motor show.
design	An arrangement scheme. Good design can help the reader understand complicated information.
element	Each of more than one hundred substances that cannot be chemically interconverted or broken down into simpler substances and are primary constituents of matter Each element is distinguished by its atomic number i e the number of protons in the nuclei of its atoms. A component or constituent element of a system.
grounds	A justification for something existing or happening. It is a Middle Eastern custom to read your future in your coffee grounds.
idea	An approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth. It s a good idea to do some research before you go.
intention	An act of intending; a volition that you intend to carry out. Good intentions are not enough.
leitmotif	A melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation (as in Wagner’s operas. There are two leitmotifs in his score marking the heroine and her Fairy Godmother.
motif	A leitmotif or figure. Floral or other motifs are then appliqu d to net veils.
motivation	Desire or willingness to do something; enthusiasm. His motivation was at a high level.
need	A condition requiring relief. She satisfied his need for affection.
object	(computing) a discrete item that provides a description of virtually anything known to a computer. The Institute was opened with the object of promoting scientific study.
occasion	A vaguely specified social event. There was no occasion for complaint.
purpose	The quality of being determined to do or achieve something firmness of purpose. There was a new sense of purpose in her step as she set off.
rationale	An explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature. The rationale for capital punishment.
reason	One’s sanity. The reason that war was declared.
subject	A person who is subjected to experimental or other observational procedures someone who is an object of investigation. He s the subject of a major new biography.
the whys and wherefores	The cause or intention underlying an action or situation especially in the phrase the whys and wherefores.
theme	Any of the twenty-nine provinces in the Byzantine empire. His letters were always on the theme of love.
thinking	A person’s ideas or opinions. I am wrap d in dismal thinkings.
topic	The subject matter of a conversation or discussion. Sleep deprivation became a frequent topic of conversation.
trope	A significant or recurrent theme; a motif. Both clothes and illness became tropes for new attitudes toward the self.

Usage Examples of "Motive" as a noun

• Police were unable to establish a motive for his murder.
• He acted with the best of motives.

Motive as an Adjective

Definitions of "Motive" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “motive” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Impelling to action- Arthur Pap.
• Causing or able to cause motion.
• Impelling to action.
• Causing or being the reason for something.
• Producing physical or mechanical motion.

Synonyms of "Motive" as an adjective (10 Words)

driving	Having the power of driving or impelling. The driving force was his innate enthusiasm.
impelling	Markedly effective as if by emotional pressure. Impelling skill as a teller of tales.
kinetic	Relating to the motion of material bodies and the forces associated therewith. Modern dance has been called kinetic pantomime.
motivating	Impelling to action. Motivating arguments.
motivative	Serving to motivate; providing a reason for, or a stimulus to, action or thought. It may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function.
motor	Relating to motor vehicles. The motor functions of each hand.
moving	Producing strong emotion, especially sadness or sympathy. An unforgettable and moving book.
operative	Functioning or having effect. Operative dentistry.
propelling	Tending to or capable of propelling.
propulsive	Having the power to propel. The faster a jet plane goes the greater its propulsive efficiency.

Usage Examples of "Motive" as an adjective

• The charge of gas is the motive force for every piston stroke.
• Motive pleas.
• Motive power.
• The motive principle of a writer's work.
• A motive force.

Associations of "Motive" (30 Words)

allure	Dispose or incline or entice to. Will sponsors really be allured by such opportunities.
attributable	(of a work or remark) able to be ascribed to a particular author, artist, or speaker. Some 50 liturgical works by or attributable to him have survived.
auditory	Of or relating to the process of hearing. Auditory processing.
bonus	Anything that tends to arouse. Good weather is an added bonus but the real appeal is the landscape.
cause	Give rise to cause to happen or occur not always intentionally. They worked in the cause of world peace.
conditioned	Physically fit. A conditioned response.
excitation	The neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland. A state of sexual excitation.
exciting	Causing great enthusiasm and eagerness. An exciting account of her trip.
fraudulent	Unjustifiably claiming or being credited with particular accomplishments or qualities. Fraudulent psychics.
impetus	The act of applying force suddenly. The ending of the Cold War gave new impetus to idealism.
incentive	A payment or concession to stimulate greater output or investment. Give farmers an incentive to improve their land.
inducement	A positive motivational influence. Inducement of sleep.
inspiration	The act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing. Then I had an inspiration.
inspiring	Having the effect of inspiring someone. The scenery is not very inspiring.
irritant	Something that causes irritation and annoyance. A powerful skin irritant.
lure	Something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed. The lure of the exotic East.
motivate	Provide (someone) with a reason for doing something. It is the teacher s job to motivate the child at school.
motivation	A set of facts and arguments used in support of a proposal. The following proposal and motivation is submitted for consideration.
motivator	A positive motivational influence. She was a great motivator of people and very energetic.
optimism	The belief that good must ultimately prevail over evil in the universe. The talks had been amicable and there were grounds for optimism.
passion	A state or outburst of strong emotion. A man of impetuous passion.
provocation	Unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment. Walking with deliberate provocation she struck a pose then giggled.
reason	Decide by reasoning draw or come to a conclusion. There is reason to believe he is lying.
reflex	In reflexology a response in a part of the body to stimulation of a corresponding point on the feet hands or head. Reflex points.
stimulate	Act as a stimulant. This herbal infusion doesn t stimulate.
stimulating	Rousing or quickening activity or the senses. A stimulating discussion.
stimulation	The act of arousing an organism to action. Stimulation of the vagus nerve slows heart rate.
stimulus	Any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action. If the tax were abolished it would act as a stimulus to exports.
titillate	Lightly touch; tickle. The press are paid to titillate the public.
urge	Push for something. He felt the urge to giggle.