Motives

Synonyms for motive
noun reason, purpose

emotion
motivation
impulse
influence
idea
aim
intention
intent

rationale
consideration
passion
feeling
cause
antecedent
incitement
end

basis
thinking
spring
object
drive
incentive
stimulus
design

root
occasion
inspiration
spur
inducement
grounds
mainspring
determinant

Antonyms for motives

thoughtlessness
hindrance

deterrent
neglect

discouragement

Concept Thesaurus for word motives
2. Causes of volition
Synonyms – noun

motive
ground
by purpose
the why and the wherefore
arriere pensee
attraction
magnetic force
enticement
bewitchment
fascination
seducement
forbidden fruit
attractability
persuasiveness
dictate
incitement
provocation (excitation of feeling)
encouragement
solicitation (request)
stimulus
goad
whet
decoy
bribery and corruption
tempter
firebrand
agent provocateur

springs of action
call
mainspring
pro and con
intention
loadstone
allectation
agacerie
bewitchery
blandishment
honeyed words
golden apple.
impressibility
attractiveness
instance
incitation
inspiration
advocacy
lobbyism
spur
ankus
dram.
decoy duck
sop
seducer
incendiary
lobbyist.

wellsprings of action.
principle
primum mobile
reason why
inducement
magnet
allective
allurement
charm
cajolery
voice of the tempter
persuasibility
susceptibility
tantalization. influence
impulse
press
persuasion
exhortation
pull.
fillip
rowel
bribe
bait
sop for Cerberus.
seductor
Siren

reason
by end
keystone
secret motive
consideration
magnetism
temptation
witchery
spell
seduction
song of the Sirens
persuasibleness
softness
prompting
impulsion
instigation
suasion
advice
incentive
whip
provocative
lure
trail of a red herring
prompter
instigator
Circe

Synonyms – verbs

induce
bring in its train
prompt
stimulate (excite)
arouse
instigate
work upon
pat on the shoulder
weigh with
dispose
lead by the nose
exercise influence with
come round one
persuade
carry
win over
procure
court.
entice
bewitch
wheedle
tantalize
suborn
make things pleasant
enforce
whip
prick
hurry on
call upon
set the fashion
come round
follow the bent

move
give an impulse to
call up
spirit up
animate
set on
operate upon
clap on the back
bias
predispose
have influence with
exercise influence over
turn the head
prevail with
bring round to one’s senses
gain over
enlist
tempt
allure
carry away
coax
cajole (deceive)
grease the palm
put a sop into the pan
force
lash
urge
drag
press (request)[more]
keep in countenance.
concede (consent)
follow the dictates of

draw
inspire
attract
inspirit
incite
actuate
encourage
clap on the shoulder.
sway
turn the scale
have influence over
exercise influence upon
magnetize
prevail upon
bring to one’s senses
come over
engage
seduce
captivate
charm
lure
tamper with
bait with a silver hook
throw a sop to
impel (push)
goad
egg on
exhort
advocate.
be persuaded
obey a call
act on principle.

draw on
put up to
beckon.
rouse
provoke
act upon
pat on the back
influence
incline
inoculate
have influence upon
go round
lobby.
overcome
draw over
talk over
invite
overpersuade
fascinate
conciliate
inveigle
bribe
gild the pill
bait the hook.
propel
spur
hound
advise
set an example
yield to temptation
follow advice

Synonyms – adjectives

impulsive
persuasive
protreptical
suasory
provocative (exciting)
spellbound
inspired

motive
persuasory
inviting
seductive
induced
instinct with
by.

suasive
hortative
tempting
attractive
disposed
smitten with

suasory
hortatory
suasive
fascinating (pleasing)
persuadable (docile)
infatuated

Synonyms – phrases
fax mentis incendium gloriae; “temptation hath a music for all ears” [Willis]; “to beguile many and be beguiled by one” [Othello].
Antonyms

absence of motive

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