English pronunciation · Words Starting with U
Ulterior Motive Pronunciation
Ulterior Motive is pronounced uhl-TI-ree-er-MOH-tiv, IPA /əlˈtɪriɝ ˈmoʊtɪv/.
uhl-TI-ree-er-MOH-tiv
US /əlˈtɪriɝ ˈmoʊtɪv/ · UK /ʌlˈtiərɪə ˈməʊtɪv/
Syllables: uhl · TI · ree · er · MOH · tiv (6 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
phrase (noun): A hidden reason for doing something, different from the one a person admits to.
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Ulterior Motive in a Sentence
- I am sure he has an ulterior motive for offering.
- She agreed with no ulterior motive at all.
- The press suspected an ulterior motive behind the donation.
Common Mispronunciations of Ulterior Motive
Not UHL-ti-ree-er MOH-tiv
TI in second place carries the first word, and the uhl in front of it is almost silent. Ulterior keeps the shape of interior and inferior.
Not uhl-TI-ree-er moh-TEEV
MOH is the loud beat of the second word and tiv behind it reduces to almost nothing. A full ee at the close belongs to the French motif.
Tip: Two pushes, one on each word: uhl-TI-ree-er MOH-tiv. The phrase is nearly always used of someone else.
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