1. motive
What's his motive for committing murder?
The motive for the murder is not yet known.
Jealousy was the motive for the murder.
They were there with some other motive in mind which she still didn't know about.
You may rest assured; I have no ulterior motive in making this donation.
These days, the motive for marriage is not necessarily pure.
Bomb-making criminals frequently have the motive of wanting public attention.
Your motive was admirable, but your action was not.
They still haven't been able to work out quite what her motive was for resorting to crime.
She is acting from some selfish motive.
Now we are better able to understand their motive.
We know the woman was murdered, but do we know what the motive was?
I don't get the motive of the killer.
What is your motive?
Catherine had an ulterior motive when she urged her father to buy a new car. She hoped that she'd be able to drive it herself.