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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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.
Greg, on the other hand, has an ulterior motive. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026 People are still willing to help each other, with no ulterior motive. — Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026 Critics have alleged the multi-million dollar film might have been made with an ulterior motive. — Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026 There was no ulterior motive other than to motivate people to do something good. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 13 Feb. 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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