motive
Why you acted
A motive is the reason behind an action, especially one that explains why someone did something questionable or criminal: Police are still trying to establish a motive for the killing.
The word implies purpose driving behavior—detectives seek motives, psychologists analyze them.
As an adjective, motive means producing motion: motive power, motive force.
Solving aid
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- caseContainer or instance
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
suspect · detective · witness · testimony · confession · interrogation · questioning · hunch
Believe to be likely
- perpetratorOne who commits wrongdoing
- alibiDefense of location
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
homicide · premeditated · malice · robbery · theft · heist · kidnapping · extortion
Reason something exists
- goalDesired end result
- aimPurpose or direction
- objectivePurpose or goal
- designPurposeful creative planning
plan · aspiration · ambition · mission · target · end · pursuit · rationale
Payment for service
- stimulusWhat prompts a reaction
- inducementMotivating factor or offer
- enticementSomething that attracts
- carrotEdible orange taproot
bonus · bribe · lure · benefit · compensation · spur · impetus · catalyst
Capacity for original thought
drive · passion · calling · conviction · dedication · enthusiasm · fervor · zeal
Recurring thematic element
- themeCentral recurring concept
- leitmotifRecurring thematic phrase
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- subjectMatter under discussion
composition · recurrence · melody · phrase · variation · development · musical · decorative
clue
Solving aid
mystery · suspect · detective · witness · testimony · confession · interrogation · questioning · hunch · theory
suspect
Believe to be likely
- perpetratorOne who commits wrongdoing
- alibiDefense of location
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
murder · homicide · premeditated · malice · robbery · theft · heist · kidnapping · extortion · blackmail
purpose
Reason something exists
design · plan · aspiration · ambition · mission · target · end · pursuit · rationale · justification
reward
Payment for service
- stimulusWhat prompts a reaction
- inducementMotivating factor or offer
- enticementSomething that attracts
carrot · bonus · bribe · lure · benefit · compensation · spur · impetus · catalyst · provocation
creativity
Capacity for original thought
vision · drive · passion · calling · conviction · dedication · enthusiasm · fervor · zeal · devotion
motif
Recurring thematic element
- themeCentral recurring concept
- leitmotifRecurring thematic phrase
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
subject · composition · recurrence · melody · phrase · variation · development · musical · decorative · ornamental
- crimerobbery, accomplice, alibi, burglary, conspiracy
- true crimetrue crime, cold case, crime docs, unsolved mystery, murder mystery
- explanationswhy, how come, explication, what happened, definition
- thriller tropesplot twist, red herring, cliffhanger, whodunit, femme fatale
- motivesintent, intention, purpose, goal, aim
- causescause, root cause, primary cause, underlying cause, origin
motivedeterrent
Thing that discourages action
disincentive · discouragement · dissuasion · hindrance · obstacle
motiveaccident
Unintended harmful event
chance · randomness · compulsion · coercion · impulse
- slow motionPlayback below normal speed
- in motionCurrently changing position
- motion sicknessNausea from perceived movement
- ulterior motiveConcealed purpose behind behavior
- set in motionCause to begin operating
- hidden motivesUndisclosed reasons for action
emotion, motion, commotion, motivation, motivate, motivated, motives, motivating, motivator