ulterior
adjective
Did you know?
Although now usually hitched to the front of the noun motive to refer to a hidden need or desire that inspires action, ulterior began its career as an adjective in the 17th century describing something occurring at a subsequent time, such as "ulterior measures" taken after a lawful request. It then started to be used to mean both "more distant" (literally and figuratively) and "situated on the farther side." The "hidden" sense, which is most familiar today, followed after those, with the word modifying nouns like purpose, design, and consequence. Ulterior comes directly from the Latin word for "farther" or "further," itself assumed to be from ulter, meaning "situated beyond."
Example Sentences
ELLE, 19 Sep. 2022 But some have accused Abbott, who is currently in the throes of a heated reelection bid, of ulterior motives in quietly engaging with family members of the victims. Ismael Estrada, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2022 The difference between a free republic and a banana republic is not whether the powerful can be held to account, but whether the powerful are held to account legitimately, in a manner that is not a transparent pretext for ulterior motives. The Editors, National Review, 10 Aug. 2022 The cast quickly turned on Conran, accusing him of coming on the show with ulterior motives of furthering his connection with Milne and gaining social media followers. Amanda Michelle Steiner, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2022 However, the Trump family has been accused of having ulterior motives for choosing the golf course as Ivana’s final resting place — motives that could benefit the family patriarch’s finances. Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2022 The only people who walk too close to potentially violent police encounters are those lacking common sense or those with ulterior motives. WSJ, 26 July 2022 With his raspy delivery, grizzled hair and doleful face, Hall excelled as government and military officials with urgent agendas as well as Hollywood and business executives with ulterior motives. Adam Bernstein, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2022 With his raspy delivery, grizzled hair and doleful face, Mr. Hall excelled as government and military officials with urgent agendas as well as Hollywood and business executives with ulterior motives. Adam Bernstein, Washington Post, 13 June 2022 See More Word History
Latin, farther, further, comparative of *ulter situated beyond, from uls beyond; akin to Latin ollus, ille, that one, Old Irish indoll beyond
1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Phrases Containing ulterior
Kids Definition
ulterior
adjective
ulterior
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- eventual
- approaching
- coming
- final
- planned
- anticipated
- expected
- ultimate
- subsequent
- later
- last
- forthcoming
- imminent
- oncoming
- future
- prospective
- upcoming
- unborn
- after
- impending
- pending
- projected
- ensuing
- posterior
- awaited
- nearing
- predicted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- previous
- ancient
- prior
- anterior
- precedent
- antecedent
- past
- olden
- preceding
- bygone