Collocations for motive - noun
ADJECTIVE
hidden,
ulterior
good, strong
I'd say he had a very strong motive for wanting her dead.
good, strong
I'd say he had a very strong motive for wanting her dead.
altruistic,
high,
noble,
pure
He was acting from the noblest of motives when he offered her money.
He was acting from the noblest of motives when he offered her money.
base (formal),
selfish
evil, sinister
questionable
main, primary, prime
real, true
clear, obvious
There seemed to be no clear motive for the attack.
evil, sinister
questionable
main, primary, prime
real, true
clear, obvious
There seemed to be no clear motive for the attack.
underlying
She was not sure what his underlying motives were.
She was not sure what his underlying motives were.
mixed
We give aid to other countries with mixed motives.
We give aid to other countries with mixed motives.
human
personal
economic, financial, political, racial (esp. BrE), religious
profit
personal
economic, financial, political, racial (esp. BrE), religious
profit
VERB + motive
be inspired by (esp. BrE),
have
She knew that he was inspired by base motives.
She knew that he was inspired by base motives.
establish,
find,
find out,
suggest
The police are still trying to establish a motive for the attack.
The police are still trying to establish a motive for the attack.
provide
There must be something which provided a motive for these killings.
There must be something which provided a motive for these killings.
be suspicious of,
examine,
impugn (formal),
question,
suspect
He was suspicious of her motives in inviting him into the house.
She should examine her motives for marrying him.
He was suspicious of her motives in inviting him into the house.
She should examine her motives for marrying him.
hide
We've become adept at hiding our true motives.
We've become adept at hiding our true motives.
explain
However you explain the motives behind his actions, he was still wrong.
However you explain the motives behind his actions, he was still wrong.
reveal
know, see, understand
Everyone can see your true motives.
know, see, understand
Everyone can see your true motives.
motive + VERB
drive sb/sth
speculation that less noble motives were driving the country's foreign policy
speculation that less noble motives were driving the country's foreign policy
PREPOSITION
motive in
What was their motive in setting fire to the building?
What was their motive in setting fire to the building?
motive behind
There is no doubt about the motive behind it all.
There is no doubt about the motive behind it all.
motive for
There may be a hidden motive for his departure.
There may be a hidden motive for his departure.
motive of
It it is clear that they were acting from motives of revenge.
It it is clear that they were acting from motives of revenge.