Motive and Stimulus

Motive

Motive noun - Something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing.
Usage example: the detective felt that the first suspect didn't have any motive for committing the crime

Stimulus is a synonym for motive in reason topic. In some cases you can use "Stimulus" instead a noun "Motive", when it comes to topics like incentive.

Stimulus

Stimulus noun - Something that arouses action or activity.
Usage example: seeing a Broadway play for the first time was the stimulus for her career in the theater
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Synonyms for Stimulus

Motive is a synonym for stimulus in provocation topic. You can use "Motive" instead a noun "Stimulus".

How words are described

special special motive special stimulus
specific specific motive specific stimulus
proper proper motive proper stimulus
sexual sexual motive sexual stimulus
Other adjectives: new.
Cite this Source
Stimulus and Motive. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/motive/stimulus
Motive & Stimulus. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/motive/stimulus>.
Stimulus or Motive. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/motive/stimulus.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "motive" and "stimulus" have occurred on timeline