MOTIVES Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

motives 1 of 2

noun

plural of motive

as in matters

a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) the principal motive of the piece was introduced in the flute section

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in motifs

a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) decorated with a paisley motive

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in reasons

something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing the detective felt that the first suspect didn't have any motive for committing the crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

motives

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of motive

as in motivates

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of motives

Noun

While some are staunchly pro-Clarkson in the debate that has since taken over the internet, others have questioned the singer’s motives for calling out the small business across her social media accounts. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Over the decades, the motives for ending public executions and moving them into prisons have varied – frequently separate from debates over capital punishment. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026 But boycotts are generally scrutinized when they are pursued for economic motives, Baer said, while speech is a different matter. — Miriam Waldvogel, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026 The motives and genres are changing, but the tech-founder movies and TV shows continue apace. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 What readers are saying The comments reflect skepticism and criticism towards Israel and its actions, with some commenters questioning the credibility of Israeli intelligence and the motives behind certain events. — Matthew Hay Brown, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 With the unanswered questions around Adelaide’s motives, some have compared her to a Professor X of the Stephen King onscreen universe, while awaiting answers in a potential Season 2. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026 Al Shamsi has said the UAE investigation remains underway to determine the full circumstances and motives behind the attack, as well as any potential links to others. — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The now-former superintendent also questioned the motives behind an investigation of her launched this summer. — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for motives

Noun

This matters because young broiler chickens (chickens raised for meat) require very warm conditions to mature.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
That rinse-clean standard matters for anyone worried about buildup, since a scalp oil that lingers after washing can leave hair looking greasy rather than nourished.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of matters

Noun

The store is also offering personalization services, where their artisans gold-stamp diaries, notebooks and leather styles with initials and playful motifs.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Taking a cue from Dante himself, Curci also borrowed motifs from popular mythology.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of motifs

Noun

Among their reasons for concern is Ohio’s poor track record when women are on the ballot.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
These tools are primarily used by those who make less than $50,000 according to a 2022 Government Accountability Office report, with food and rent being the key reasons people use the service, one case study of food and restaurant workers found.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of reasons

Verb

More than 4,300 people are now on Dion’s Chicago Dream waitlist – a fact that motivates Dawson every day.

— Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
What motivates voters Extensive research confirms the axiom that a sense of civic duty is the strongest predictor of whether someone will vote.

— Christopher Miller, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of motivates

Noun

The five-phase planning process for rebuilding the mansion was expected to be completed this fall, but the project appears to remain in the planning stage, based on the topics scheduled for discussion at the open house.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
On October 15, Flow Space welcomed hundreds of attendees to its annual Women’s Health Summit for a day of conversations about the hottest topics in midlife women’s health.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of topics

Browse Nearby Words

motived

motives

motiving

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Motives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motives. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of motives

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes