ulterior
/ʌl'tiəriə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Existing beyond what is obvious, stated, or apparent: Refers to something that is intentionally kept hidden or not openly declared.
- Later in time or sequence; subsequent: Refers to something that comes after or is more remote in the future.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- She was worried he had an ulterior motive for being so helpful. (The true reason for his helpfulness was not the one he stated.)
- We will discuss the immediate problem first and leave ulterior concerns for another meeting. (The concerns that come later or are less immediate will be addressed separately.)
Advanced Usage
"Ulterior motive": A hidden reason for doing something, different from the reason given.
- His friendliness seemed genuine, but I suspected an ulterior motive.
"Ulterior purpose": A secret or secondary aim.
- The inquiry was conducted without any ulterior purpose.
Variants and Related Words
- Ulteriorly (adverb): In an ulterior manner.
- He acted ulteriorly, making his true intentions difficult to discern.
Synonyms
- Hidden: Kept out of sight; concealed.
- Covert: Not openly acknowledged or displayed.
- Secondary: Coming after, less important than, or resulting from something primary.
- Subsequent: Coming after something in time.
Related Phrases
- Ulterior design: A secret plan or scheme.
- The proposal was rejected due to fears of an ulterior design.
Related Idioms
- With ulterior intent: With a hidden or undisclosed purpose.
- He made the offer with ulterior intent, hoping to gain control of the company.
Adjective
- coming at a subsequent time or stage
- without ulterior argument
- the mood posterior to
- beyond or outside an area of immediate interest; remote
- a suggestion ulterior to the present discussion
- without...any purpose, immediate or ulterior- G.B.Shaw
- lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed (especially being kept in the background or deliberately concealed)
- subterranean motives for murder
- looked too closely for an ulterior purpose in all knowledge- Bertrand Russell