ulterior motive

noun

: a secret reason
I think she has an ulterior motive for helping us.

Examples of ulterior motive in a Sentence

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And the film seems warmer again — finally, a relationship with no ulterior motive (perhaps). — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Garner suggested an ulterior motive was behind the allegations in the lawsuit against him. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 However, Anderson maintained her friend had no ulterior motive in covering their wedding expenses. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 14 Sep. 2026 The parental parallels between Quinn reconciling with her mother’s ulterior motive and Staten hashing out the Double K Ranch chairman debacle with his father provided another test for the couple to work through before being together. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ulterior motive

Rhymes for ulterior motive

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Browse Nearby Words

ulterior
ulterior motive
ultima
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Cite this Entry

“Ulterior motive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ulterior%20motive. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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