All motive synonyms
mo·tive
M m noun motive
- motivation — the act or an instance of motivating, or providing with a reason to act in a certain way: I don't understand what her motivation was for quitting her job. Synonyms: motive, inspiration, inducement, cause, impetus.
- impulse — the influence of a particular feeling, mental state, etc.: to act under a generous impulse; to strike out at someone from an angry impulse.
- influence — the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others: He used family influence to get the contract.
- idea — any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.
- aim — If you aim for something or aim to do something, you plan or hope to achieve it.
- intention — an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.
- intent — something that is intended; purpose; design; intention: The original intent of the committee was to raise funds.
- rationale — the fundamental reason or reasons serving to account for something.
- consideration — Consideration is careful thought about something.
- passion — any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.
- feeling — a quality of an object that is perceived by feeling or touching: the soft feel of cotton.
- cause — a person or thing that acts, happens, or exists in such a way that some specific thing happens as a result; the producer of an effect: You have been the cause of much anxiety. What was the cause of the accident?
- antecedent — An antecedent of something happened or existed before it and was similar to it in some way.
- incitement — the act of inciting.
- basis — If something is done on a particular basis, it is done according to that method, system, or principle.
- thinking — of or relating to thinking or thought.
- spring — String PRocessING language
- object — anything that is visible or tangible and is relatively stable in form.
- drive — to send, expel, or otherwise cause to move by force or compulsion: to drive away the flies; to drive back an attacking army; to drive a person to desperation.
- incentive — something that incites or tends to incite to action or greater effort, as a reward offered for increased productivity.
- stimulus — something that incites to action or exertion or quickens action, feeling, thought, etc.: The approval of others is a potent stimulus.
- design — When someone designs a garment, building, machine, or other object, they plan it and make a detailed drawing of it from which it can be built or made.
- root — Elihu [el-uh-hyoo] /ˈɛl əˌhyu/ (Show IPA), 1845–1937, U.S. lawyer and statesman: Nobel Peace Prize 1912.
- occasion — a particular time, especially as marked by certain circumstances or occurrences: They met on three occasions.
- inspiration — an inspiring or animating action or influence: I cannot write poetry without inspiration.
- spur — a batch of newly made rag-paper sheets.
- inducement — the act of inducing.
- grounds — the solid surface of the earth; firm or dry land: to fall to the ground.
- mainspring — the principal spring in a mechanism, as in a watch.
- determinant — A determinant of something causes it to be of a particular kind or to happen in a particular way.
- reason — a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reason for declaring war.
- purpose — the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
- emotion — A natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others.
- end — Come or bring to a final point; finish.
adjective motive
- kinetic — pertaining to motion.