irrational motive

7.7

A reason for doing something that is not logical or sensible

noun

: motivo irracional

She acted out of an irrational motive, not considering the logical consequences.

Examples

Jealousy is often an irrational motive behind people's actions.
Courts try to determine whether behavior is driven by an irrational motive or a reasonable cause.
His decision was driven by an irrational motive.
She acted on an irrational motive that left everyone confused.
His irrational motive for leaving the party early puzzled everyone around him.
She acted on an irrational motive when she quit her job without a backup plan.
The detective suspected that the suspect had an irrational motive for the crime.

Synonyms

motive

vsirrational motive

621 3.0

A reason, often hidden, that makes someone do something

is a reason that does not follow logical or reasonable thought

Antonyms

rational motive

1 5.6

A reason for doing something that someone can explain with clear thinking

How Rational

justification

156 4.0

reason

∞ 1.0

motive

621 3.0

irrational motive

7.7

delusion

199 6.7

Surface Forms

irrational motive singular

irrational motives plural

Morphology

irrational + motive

This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'irrational' (not guided by clear reasoning) modifies 'motive' (reason for action), so the combined meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. The compositional pattern is common across languages and follows standard English adjective-noun semantics, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the phrase.

Etymology

Irrational motive puts together irrational, which means 'not logical' or 'not thinking clearly', and motive, which means 'a reason for doing something'. Think of someone acting from sudden jealousy or fear, not from a good reason; that's why the phrase means 'a reason that does not follow logical thought'.