Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of motive

12 similar words

Another word for motive is sake. Other synonyms of motive are motivation, motivate, moving, ambulatory and animate.

Synonyms and similar words for motive

nounAn incentive to act in a particular way; a reason or emotion that makes one want to do something...

verbTo prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

  • motivateTo provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.

adjectiveCausing motion; having power to move, or tending to move.

  • moving
  • ambulatoryAccustomed to move from place to place; not stationary; movable.
  • animatePossessing the quality or ability of motion.
  • kineticRelating to motion.
  • mobileCapable of being moved, especially on wheels.
  • motileIn organisms: having the power to move spontaneously.
  • movable
  • vagileFree to move about.

adjectiveRelating to motion and/or to its cause.

Meaning of motive

  1. noun An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting.
  2. noun An incentive to act in a particular way; a reason or emotion that makes one want to do something; anything that prompts a choice of action.
  3. noun Something which causes someone to want to commit a crime; a reason for criminal behaviour.

Full definition of motive

motive in other languages

Questions about synonyms of motive

What is another word for motive?
Motive has 12 synonyms on Word.ws, such as sake, motivation, motivate, moving, ambulatory, animate, kinetic and mobile.
What does motive mean?
Motive means an idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: motive (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of motive.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/motive. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.