Ulterior Motive Meaning and Examples

An ulterior motive is the hidden or secret reason and purpose of an action. It is the intention behind someone's actions, especially when those actions appear to have a different, often benign, purpose on the surface. The term "ulterior motive" suggests that the person may have a concealed agenda or an underlying objective.

For instance, imagine a colleague who offers to help you with a project at work, but their ulterior motive is to gain access to your confidential client list, which they plan to use for their personal gain. They may seem like they are helping you out of goodwill on the surface, but their true intention is to obtain your client list for their own benefit and at your expense (because you would be losing clients to them).

An ulterior motive is typically a purpose or reason that is selfish in nature and can potentially be harmful, either physically or mentally, to others. The term has a negative connotation and is often seen as unethical in social situations.

Example sentences

She couldn't help but wonder if his offer of assistance had an ulterior motive.
The detective suspected that the suspect had an ulterior motive for his sudden cooperation.
Trust is essential in relationships; hidden ulterior motives can erode that trust.
His generous donation to the charity was seen by some as having an ulterior motive to improve his public image.
In politics, it is common to question if politicians have an ulterior motive behind their actions.
The manager's decision to promote a coworker without experience raised suspicions of an ulterior motive.
It is important to be cautious when someone is overly friendly, as they may have an ulterior motive.
Her kindness seemed genuine, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was an ulterior motive.
The whistleblower came forward, revealing an ulterior motive behind the company's unethical practices.
His sudden interest in her hobbies raised suspicions of an ulterior motive.

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