without any motive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "without any motive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or behavior that is performed without a specific reason or intention behind it. Example: "He acted without any motive, leaving everyone puzzled by his sudden decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"We weren't able to speak amongst ourselves and we were constantly beaten without any motive," Ismail said.

Independent

They should be truly independent, without any motive but to seek the truth and clean up the press.

The New York Times

What do you say about someone who's on trial for "murdering three defenseless old women in their beds without any motive other than his own sick enjoyment"?

The New York Times - Books

You brought his life to an end without any motive in circumstances which you know amounted to murder…" Since his mother died, Ben Gunn had been forever escaping the rules and authority that had closed in on him, climbing out of windows, scarpering down driveways.

The Guardian

In the present context we can understand PSR as demanding that there be some reason for God's creating the world in one way rather than another since "A mere will without any motive, is a fiction, not only contrary to God's perfection, but also chimerical and contradictory" (Fourth Paper, paragraph 2; G VII.371 2/Alexander 36).

SEP

Wishing for things you can't have in the moment, spending your whole life chasing something that may not even be satisfying when you get it; what's the point when you can lose yourself in music, shake your hips and shoulders inside a manmade hut, eating fruit picked from your Grandma's tree and just loving people without any motive or expectation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"There are plenty of us who have raised our concerns without any financial motive at all, if indeed the other lawyers have got a financial motive.

The Guardian

"There are plenty of us who have raised our concerns without any financial motive at all, if indeed the other lawyers have got a financial motive," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

BBC

Scriptural duties, when performed without any ulterior motive, purify the mind and help one to receive God's grace.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although her cellphone was missing, little else appeared to have been disturbed, leaving investigators without any obvious motive.

The New York Times

Yet there are those who would limit the social entrepreneur label only to those without any profit motive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without any motive" to clearly indicate that an action or decision lacks a discernible reason or intention. This emphasizes the inexplicable or random nature of the event.

Common error

Avoid using "without any motive" when you actually mean "without a clear motive". The former suggests a complete absence of any reason, while the latter implies the reason is simply not obvious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without any motive" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate the absence of a reason or intention. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and commonly found.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

16%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

16%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "without any motive" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that conveys the absence of a reason or intention behind an action or state. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for various contexts, from news reports to academic discussions. While alternatives like "for no reason" or "unintentionally" exist, "without any motive" provides a clear and direct way to emphasize the inexplicable or random nature of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for no reason

Emphasizes the lack of a cause or justification.

without purpose

Focuses on the absence of a goal or aim.

for no particular reason

More emphatic way to say "for no reason".

unintentionally

Highlights the lack of deliberate intent.

arbitrarily

Suggests a decision or action based on random choice rather than reason.

unprompted

Suggests an action that occurs without external encouragement.

without design

Implies a lack of planning or premeditation.

spontaneously

Indicates an action arising from a sudden impulse.

inadvertently

Highlights that the action was not planned or intended.

groundlessly

Highlights that the action has no base or reason

FAQs

How can I rephrase "without any motive"?

Alternatives include "for no reason", "unintentionally", or "without purpose", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "without any motive"?

Yes, the phrase "without any motive" is grammatically sound and commonly used in both formal and informal writing to indicate the absence of a reason or intention.

What's the difference between "without any motive" and "without a clear motive"?

"Without any motive" suggests there is absolutely no reason or intention behind an action. "Without a clear motive" implies a motive exists but is not readily apparent or understandable.

How to use "without any motive" in a sentence?

Example: "The crime seemed perplexing because the perpetrator acted "for no reason", "without any motive"."