concealed motive
noun phraseUK /kənˈsiːld ˈməʊtɪv/
US /kənˈsiːld ˈmoʊtɪv/
A secret reason for doing something that you keep hidden.
The detective suspected the friendly stranger had a concealed motive for helping them.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A reason kept private to avoid suspicion or blame.
He offered to fix the car for free, but his concealed motive was to win her trust.
3. An unspoken purpose behind a seemingly kind act.
The donation seemed generous, yet a concealed motive lay behind it.
4. A hidden cause driving someone's behavior in a story or mystery.
In the novel, the butler's concealed motive is revealed only in the final chapter.