ulterior — existing beyond what is obvious or admitted; intentionally hidden
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: existing beyond what is obvious or admitted; intentionally hidden
Pronunciation (IPA): /ʌlˈtɪriər/
Example Sentences
- The politician's sudden interest in environmental issues seemed to have ulterior motives related to the upcoming election.
- When my brother offered to do my chores, I immediately suspected he had an ulterior motive - probably wanting to borrow my car.
- She claimed to be helping out of kindness, but everyone could see her ulterior agenda.
ulterior
ADJECTIVE[/ʌlˈtɪriər/]
existing beyond what is obvious or admitted; intentionally hidden
Hidden agenda behind friendly facade
Superior interior hides ulterior motives
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Ulterior derives from Latin 'ulterior', the comparative form of 'ultra' (beyond, further). Originally denoting something physically distant or beyond, the term evolved to signify something concealed or hidden beneath the surface.
Breakdown
ultra- (beyond) + -ior (comparative suffix) = further beyond; the metaphorical sense of 'hidden' developed from the literal meaning of something lying beyond or behind visible appearances.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The politician's sudden interest in environmental issues seemed to have ulterior motives related to the upcoming election.”
“When my brother offered to do my chores, I immediately suspected he had an ulterior motive - probably wanting to borrow my car.”
“She claimed to be helping out of kindness, but everyone could see her ulterior agenda.”
“The free pizza offer from the new restaurant definitely had ulterior motives - they wanted our email addresses for marketing.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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