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ulterior motive
[ uhl-teer-ee-er moh-tiv ]
noun
- a secret reason for doing something; a purpose, often the main purpose, that is kept hidden:
When his enemy the Sheriff of Nottingham calls for an archery contest, Robin Hood suspects an ulterior motive, namely, to flush Robin out of hiding.
It turns out she had an ulterior motive for being so friendly and helpful—she was a con artist hoping to sign me up.
Word History and Origins
Origin of ulterior motive1
Example Sentences
Schwartz claims his curiosity serves an ulterior motive: “I love learning about people and I’m not as comfortable talking about myself.”
Prof Jonathan Wilson, a professor of brand strategy and culture at Regent's University London, thinks there is an ulterior motive for people sharing these end-of-year-reviews - especially on apps that people use to track their virtuous activities, like fitness and education.
Sanders, who resigned from his position as chair of the Federal Salary Council over Schedule F during the first Trumpov administration, noted that he is an “unashamed Republican” but that he worries about “an ulterior motive” behind the staffing changes.
In the hit new CBS drama “Matlock,” a modern-day reimagining of the long-running series that starred Andy Griffith as a folksy but astute defense attorney, Bates plays another virtuosic legal mind — but with a powerful ulterior motive.
"It felt like somebody had access to your personal thoughts, your relationships. And they had an ulterior motive. They're not there to be an observer — they're there to take something and use it and potentially hurt people I love and care about," Botha described.
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