Figure
Figure noun - A unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric).
Usage example: upholstered the chair with a fabric embossed with figures of fleur-de-lis
Motive is a synonym for figure in thing topic. In some cases you can use "Motive" instead a noun "Figure", when it comes to topics like part, design, depiction.
How words are described
| sympathetic | sympathetic figure | sympathetic motive |
| good | good figure | good motive |
| better | better figure | better motive |
| similar | similar figure | similar motive |
| Other adjectives: perfect, original, reasonable, sinister, powerful, actual, real, big, evil, little, dark, tragic, main, important, new, major, heroic, political. | ||
Both words in one sentence
-
Family Values Villain: Part of Bowser's motive for marrying the Princess is his concern over his kids lacking a mother figure.
- Cattleya's major motive for fighting in the tournament is to try to figure out what happened to her husband (and father of her child Rana, which is where it comes into this trope).
- Impa knows Sheik is an impostor from the get go, but can't figure out what the motive or the true identity is.
Source: Dislikes the New Guy
Cite this Source
Motive and Figure. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/figure/motive
Figure & Motive. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/figure/motive>.
Motive or Figure. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/figure/motive.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "figure" and "motive" have occurred on timeline