veiled motive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "veiled motive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an intention or reason that is not openly expressed or is hidden beneath the surface. Example: "Her kindness seemed genuine, but many suspected she had a veiled motive for helping him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

He agreed with the Justice Department's argument that his role was not to look for "veiled" motives behind the executive order.

The New Yorker

Vocabulary: Majestic, ailing, ecosystem, veranda, pristine, banned, poachers, juveniles, yields, hauls, commercial, innovative, nefarious, assailants, bungalow, veer, roughing up, rogue, veiled, disbanded, motive Extension Activities: 1. Research and write biographies on Joan Root and George Adamson (also mentioned in the article).

The New York Times

In a political season marked by invective, mistrust of motive, veiled threats, and even the ironizing of military sacrifice, the spirit of Homer's railing Greek seems to walk abroad in the land.

The New Yorker

"The fundamental issue is that towns have to understand their borders are not immigration borders and the state has a right to intercede after seeing a pattern of thinly veiled racism and other motives behind their denials of affordable housing," said Jeffrey Freiser, executive director of the Connecticut Housing Coalition, a private organization.

The New York Times

But demonstrators and civil liberties advocates sense a dark ulterior motive, and describe the new North Dakota measures as thinly veiled attempts to quell dissent and criminalize protest.

The New York Times

Women are veiled.

The New York Times

Others wore veiled masks.

The New York Times

She too is veiled.

Yale University

But she is veiled.

Yale University

Every woman was veiled.

Columbia University

All the women were veiled.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "veiled motive" when you want to suggest a deliberate attempt to conceal an intention, rather than a simple misunderstanding.

Common error

Avoid using "veiled motive" to describe actions when the hidden intention is purely speculative. Ensure there's a basis for suspicion before implying deliberate concealment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "veiled motive" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "veiled" modifies the noun "motive". This describes a motive that is not openly expressed or is hidden. Ludwig confirms that this usage is correct and acceptable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "veiled motive" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a hidden or not openly expressed reason. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most appropriately used when there's a suggestion of deliberate concealment rather than simple complexity. While relatively rare, its usage spans across news, academia, and professional contexts. When using this phrase, ensure there's sufficient evidence to support the implication of a hidden intention, and consider alternatives like "ulterior motive" or "hidden agenda" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hidden agenda

Emphasizes a secret plan or goal.

Ulterior motive

Highlights a motive that is concealed and often self-serving.

Concealed intention

Focuses on the act of hiding the purpose.

Underlying reason

Points to a reason that is not immediately obvious.

Disguised purpose

Highlights an intent that is deliberately masked.

Secret agenda

Similar to hidden agenda, but can imply a more complex plan.

Unspoken aim

Focuses on the lack of explicit communication about the goal.

Implicit intention

Highlights an intention that is suggested but not directly expressed.

Camouflaged objective

Emphasizes the deliberate act of making the objective less visible.

Obscured motivation

Highlights that the drive behind an action is not easily understood.

FAQs

How can I use "veiled motive" in a sentence?

You can use "veiled motive" to describe a reason for doing something that is not openly expressed or is hidden beneath the surface. For example, "Her kindness seemed genuine, but many suspected she had a veiled motive for helping him."

What are some alternatives to saying "veiled motive"?

You can use alternatives like "hidden agenda", "ulterior motive", or "concealed intention" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "ulterior motive" and "veiled motive"?

"Ulterior motive" often implies a self-serving hidden reason, while "veiled motive" simply suggests that the true reason is not openly expressed, without necessarily implying malice or selfishness.

In what contexts is "veiled motive" most appropriate?

"Veiled motive" is suitable in contexts where there is a sense of mystery or suspicion surrounding someone's actions, and their true intentions are not immediately clear.