self-serving motive

USAGE SUMMARY

"self-serving motive" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing actions or decisions that are primarily motivated by personal gain rather than altruism. For example, "His decision to donate was driven by a self-serving motive, as he wanted to enhance his public image." Alternative expressions include "self-interested motive" and "egoistic motive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"I would guess that this report has the same self-serving motive that most of these reports have, which is to scare people and make politicians think that there is a crisis out there," Mr. Ricci said.

The New York Times

"I remained largely unfamiliar with [the school]." This, along with other things, like the school's $30€2222) membership fee and penchant for selling Chakra Sets and Penkhaduce jewelery in its online store, have raised red flags among skeptics – even neo-Pagan message boards occasionally question whether there's a self-serving motive in Zell-Ravenheart's project.

Vice

"I remained largely unfamiliar with [the school]." This, along with other things, like the school's tuition fees—$45 a year for students under 18, $95 for adults and penchant for selling chakra sets and Penkhaduce jewelry in its online store, have raised red flags among skeptics—even neo-Pagan message boards occasionally question whether there's a self-serving motive in Zell-Ravenheart's project.

Vice

When you do something kind, there's no self-serving motive behind it; you're driven by love.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Nowhere is this double-edged irony more apparent than during military holidays such as Memorial Day, when we get treated to a generous serving of praise and grandstanding by politicians, corporations and others with similarly self-serving motives eager to go on record as being pro-military.

Huffington Post

Memories are unreliable; everyone has worthy and self-serving motives; there is no uplifting conclusion.

The Guardian

All allegations were denied by Allen at the time, who then called them "an unconscionable and gruesomely damaging manipulation of innocent children for vindictive and self-serving motives".

The Guardian - Film

"Yet in this one instance in our campaigns for a better London, when collective action is required, four of them are acting out of self-serving motives".

The Guardian

I managed to get Debenedetti on his cell phone, in Rome, and he insisted that the interviews were real, and that Roth and others had self-serving motives for denying them.

The New Yorker

There should be no doubting the self-serving motives of Senator Joseph Lieberman and Gen. Wesley Clark in dropping out of the Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses three months before voters gather there to ponder the crowded field.

The New York Times

Most of us would acknowledge that the money raised by churches and mosques and religiously affiliated organisations is given voluntarily, in good faith and for compassionate, not self-serving, motives.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to criticize an action that is being presented as altruistic but is actually intended to benefit the actor.

Common error

While a "self-serving motive" and an "ulterior motive" often overlap, they are not identical. A "self-serving motive" specifically describes the beneficiary (oneself), whereas an "ulterior motive" specifically describes the secrecy of the intent. An ulterior motive could theoretically be altruistic (though it usually isn't), but a self-serving one is always about personal gain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "self-serving motive" functions as a complex noun phrase where "self-serving" acts as a compound attributive adjective modifying the noun "motive". According to Ludwig AI, this structure is used to characterize the underlying reason for an action. The hyphenation is critical to link the subject (self) with the action (serving), preventing the reader from misinterpreting the sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "self-serving motive" is a grammatically correct and highly effective phrase used to describe actions driven by personal gain. Ludwig AI shows that it is a staple of professional writing, particularly in political and social criticism. The compound adjective should always be hyphenated when appearing before the noun. While it is similar to terms like "<a href="/s/ulterior+motive" target="_blank" rel="alternative">ulterior motive", it specifically targets the egoistic nature of the intent rather than just its secrecy. Its presence across diverse domains—from elite journalism to psychological research—underscores its utility as a precise tool for analyzing human behavior.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

self-interested motive

Uses a slightly more formal, neutral adjective that is often used in economic or philosophical contexts.

personal agenda

Focuses on the plan or series of goals behind the action rather than just the impulse.

ulterior motive

Implies a hidden or secondary reason for an action that is intentionally kept secret.

egoistic intent

Carries a stronger psychological or philosophical connotation regarding the ego.

mercenary motive

Suggests that the primary drive is strictly financial gain or material reward.

hidden agenda

Emphasizes the deceptive nature of the intentions more than the self-serving aspect itself.

selfish reason

A more common, everyday expression that carries a stronger moral judgment.

narcissistic impulse

Suggests the motivation stems specifically from a need for admiration or self-importance.

self-regarding incentive

A formal, academic way to describe being motivated by one's own interests.

opportunistic drive

Focuses on taking advantage of circumstances for personal gain regardless of principles.

FAQs

Is it "self serving motive" or "self-serving motive"?

The correct form is "self-serving motive" with a hyphen. In English, compound adjectives that precede a noun are typically hyphenated to ensure clarity for the reader.

What is a more professional way to say "self-serving motive"?

Depending on the field, you might use "<a href="/s/self-interested+motive" target="_blank" rel="alternative">self-interested motive" for a more neutral tone, or "<a href="/s/mercenary+intentions" target="_blank" rel="alternative">mercenary intentions" to sound more formal and critical.

Can "self-serving motive" be used in a positive way?

It is rarely used positively. Because the term usually implies that a person is putting their own needs above others or hiding their true intent, it carries a negative connotation of vanity or greed.

How do I use "self-serving motive" in a sentence?

A typical usage would be: "Critics argued that the CEO's large donation was driven by a self-serving motive to distract from recent scandals." You can find more examples of this on <a href="/s/self-serving+motive" target="_blank" rel="alternative">Ludwig.