Ulterior
adjective
Hidden and unknown, usually with a second, secret intention or aim behind the obvious one.
He invited us to his house for dinner, but I suspect he has an ulterior motive.
Often appears as...
- ulterior motive
- ulterior purpose
adjective
Further away or beyond in space or time.
The lawyer mentioned some ulterior actions that might take place at a later date.
Often appears as...
- ulterior date
- ulterior proceedings
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Hidden and unknown, usually with a second, secret intention or aim behind the obvious one.
He invited us to his house for dinner, but I suspect he has an ulterior motive.
Often appears as...
- ulterior motive
- ulterior purpose
adjective
Further away or beyond in space or time.
The lawyer mentioned some ulterior actions that might take place at a later date.
Often appears as...
- ulterior date
- ulterior proceedings
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Sneaky Implication
Use 'ulterior' to suggest someone is being sneaky or not fully honest.
Despite his friendly smile, I could sense an ulterior intention.
Pro Tip 2/3Doubt and Suspicion
Implies the speaker feels doubt or suspicion about real motives.
Her compliments were too frequent, hinting at ulterior motives.
Pro Tip 3/3Reading Context
Look for clues in the context that indicate someone's behavior doesn't match their true goals.
He offered to help, likely with an ulterior purpose.
Pro Tip 1/3Sneaky Implication
Use 'ulterior' to suggest someone is being sneaky or not fully honest.
Despite his friendly smile, I could sense an ulterior intention.
Pro Tip 2/3Doubt and Suspicion
Implies the speaker feels doubt or suspicion about real motives.
Her compliments were too frequent, hinting at ulterior motives.
Pro Tip 3/3Reading Context
Look for clues in the context that indicate someone's behavior doesn't match their true goals.
He offered to help, likely with an ulterior purpose.
Pro Tip 1/3Sneaky Implication
Use 'ulterior' to suggest someone is being sneaky or not fully honest.
Despite his friendly smile, I could sense an ulterior intention.
Pro Tip 2/3Doubt and Suspicion
Implies the speaker feels doubt or suspicion about real motives.
Her compliments were too frequent, hinting at ulterior motives.
Pro Tip 3/3Reading Context
Look for clues in the context that indicate someone's behavior doesn't match their true goals.
He offered to help, likely with an ulterior purpose.
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Video examples
Robert Gupta: Between...
and how late-stage Alzheimer's patients, whose dementia was so far progressed that they could no longer recognize their family, could still pick out a tune by Chopin at the piano that they had learned when they were children. But I had an ulterior motive of visiting Gottfried Schlaug, and it was that I was at a crossroads in my life,
Video examples
Explosive 9/11 Claims PIPE...
evidence that those buildings were explosively demolished the truthers believe there may be an ulterior reason for the demolition experts skepticism the firms that do control demolition high-rises work for the most wealthy people and our federal
Video examples
Why should you read...
and what role might he play in the course of justice? These questions are complicated by a tangled web of characters, forcing Hamlet to negotiate friends, family, court counselors, and love interests– many of whom possess ulterior motives.
Video examples
Robert Gupta: Between...
and how late-stage Alzheimer's patients, whose dementia was so far progressed that they could no longer recognize their family, could still pick out a tune by Chopin at the piano that they had learned when they were children. But I had an ulterior motive of visiting Gottfried Schlaug, and it was that I was at a crossroads in my life,
Video examples
Explosive 9/11 Claims PIPE...
evidence that those buildings were explosively demolished the truthers believe there may be an ulterior reason for the demolition experts skepticism the firms that do control demolition high-rises work for the most wealthy people and our federal
Video examples
Why should you read...
and what role might he play in the course of justice? These questions are complicated by a tangled web of characters, forcing Hamlet to negotiate friends, family, court counselors, and love interests– many of whom possess ulterior motives.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
David Grann
American Journalist
One of the things I believe strongly in is developing institutions - legal, press, bureaucracies, academies - that are rooted in the pursuit of impartial truth. That aren't simply just bent to partisan ends or are corrupted for the powerful or for other ulterior motives.
Quote examples
Omar Bongo
Gabonese Statesman
My actions to promote peace, the mediation missions which I carried out during many conflicts, which very often occurred between brothers of the same country, are not driven by any ulterior motives or any calculations based on personal ambitions.
Quote examples
Josh Radnor
American Director
It's not our job to play judge and jury, to determine who is worthy of our kindness and who is not. We just need to be kind, unconditionally and without ulterior motive, even - or rather, especially - when we'd prefer not to be.
Quote examples
Jeff Sessions
American Politician
All of us know that when the confidence of a private conversation is breached by a party with ulterior motives or one who simply misunderstands what the speaker says or means, the speaker can always be embarrassed.
Quote examples
Daniel Lubetzky
Mexican Businessman
Relying on the power of kindness is a sensitive undertaking. The challenge is to inspire people to be kind more often without tainting the selflessness that comes from doing something nice with no ulterior motive.
Quote examples
Lucian Freud
British Artist
I am only interested in painting the actual person, in doing a painting of them, not in using them to some ulterior end of art. For me, to use someone doing something not native to them would be wrong.
Quote examples
John Lee Hancock
American Writer
I think that, anybody with a strong will to tell a story, then that is fantastic. I think it's fantastic. I think sometimes people have what I'll call an ulterior motive with a story.
Quote examples
Sally Field
American Actress
I really have no ulterior motive in taking on certain roles. I have no larger issue that I really want to show people. I'm an actor, that's all. I just do what I do.
Quote examples
Wyatt Cenac
American Comedian
I feel like you can't trust a cat. I feel like a cat's got an ulterior motive. The moment you show any weakness to a cat, the cat is gonna take over.
Quote examples
Giancarlo Esposito
American Actor
I try to be careful with my persuasiveness. When my heart is really behind it, and when I have no ulterior motive, then I know I'm truly persuasive.
Quote examples
David Grann
American Journalist
One of the things I believe strongly in is developing institutions - legal, press, bureaucracies, academies - that are rooted in the pursuit of impartial truth. That aren't simply just bent to partisan ends or are corrupted for the powerful or for other ulterior motives.
Quote examples
Omar Bongo
Gabonese Statesman
My actions to promote peace, the mediation missions which I carried out during many conflicts, which very often occurred between brothers of the same country, are not driven by any ulterior motives or any calculations based on personal ambitions.
Quote examples
Josh Radnor
American Director
It's not our job to play judge and jury, to determine who is worthy of our kindness and who is not. We just need to be kind, unconditionally and without ulterior motive, even - or rather, especially - when we'd prefer not to be.
Quote examples
Jeff Sessions
American Politician
All of us know that when the confidence of a private conversation is breached by a party with ulterior motives or one who simply misunderstands what the speaker says or means, the speaker can always be embarrassed.
Quote examples
Daniel Lubetzky
Mexican Businessman
Relying on the power of kindness is a sensitive undertaking. The challenge is to inspire people to be kind more often without tainting the selflessness that comes from doing something nice with no ulterior motive.
Quote examples
Lucian Freud
British Artist
I am only interested in painting the actual person, in doing a painting of them, not in using them to some ulterior end of art. For me, to use someone doing something not native to them would be wrong.
Quote examples
John Lee Hancock
American Writer
I think that, anybody with a strong will to tell a story, then that is fantastic. I think it's fantastic. I think sometimes people have what I'll call an ulterior motive with a story.
Quote examples
Sally Field
American Actress
I really have no ulterior motive in taking on certain roles. I have no larger issue that I really want to show people. I'm an actor, that's all. I just do what I do.
Quote examples
Wyatt Cenac
American Comedian
I feel like you can't trust a cat. I feel like a cat's got an ulterior motive. The moment you show any weakness to a cat, the cat is gonna take over.
Quote examples
Giancarlo Esposito
American Actor
I try to be careful with my persuasiveness. When my heart is really behind it, and when I have no ulterior motive, then I know I'm truly persuasive.
Example 1 of 10
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