Collocations withmotive
These are words often used in combination withmotive.
Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.
hidden motive
No doubt there is some hidden motive behind such a restriction, but it would seem grossly unfair.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
improper motive
It shows there must have been some improper motive for the change.
From theCambridge English Corpus
main motive
The main motive for growing grain legume crops was the production of grain.
From theCambridge English Corpus
mixed motives
However, the mere existence of mixed motives in no way means that there is an absence of good faith.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
noble motive
A more noble motive on which to base regionalization is, of course, outcome.
From theCambridge English Corpus
political motive
A less obvious fact, but equally important, is that no census is without a political motive.
From theCambridge English Corpus
possible motive
Talbott certainly raises an obvious question in asking what possible motive could explain such a choice.
From theCambridge English Corpus
primary motive
Farmers primary motive to adopt mulching is recognition that sloughing carries the risk of a permanent loss of cropland function.
From theCambridge English Corpus
racial motive
However, the clauses require an additional burden on the prosecution—to prove a racial motive.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
selfish motive
Is there no difference between two men who commit the same offence one guided by selfish motive and other by a selfless one?
From theCambridge English Corpus
sinister motive
There is no sinister motive or hidden agenda.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
sole motive
Too much support is being given to those whose sole motive is the amassing of profits.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
strong motive
In and around the capital, a great number of people joined the rebels without any strong motive to support them.
From theCambridge English Corpus
true motive
Not surprisingly, many ladino observers and most indigenous activists in the mid-1990s tended cynically to suppose that these funds were the government's true motive in creating it.
From theCambridge English Corpus
underlying motive
Ideally, fragments must make sense to the expert who must be able to supply some underlying motive or reason for them belonging together.
From theCambridge English Corpus
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.