Chief motive
Mainspring and chief motive are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Mainspring" instead a noun phrase "Chief motive".
Mainspring
Mainspring noun - The most important spring in a mechanical device (especially a clock or watch); as it uncoils it drives the mechanism.
Chief motive and mainspring are semantically related. You can use "Chief motive" instead a noun "Mainspring".
Mutual synonyms
Cite this Source
Mainspring and Chief motive. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 03, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/chief_motive/mainspring
Chief motive & Mainspring. N.p., 2016. Web. 03 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/chief_motive/mainspring>.
Mainspring or Chief motive. 2016. Accessed August 03, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/chief_motive/mainspring.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "chief motive" and "mainspring" have occurred on timeline