Word · Frequency #21706
Fully loadedulterior
隐秘的，隐蔽的
hidden or secret, especially of motives
- 1.
Situated beyond, or on the farther side.
位于更远处或另一边的
- 2.
Beyond what is obvious or evident.
超出明显或显而易见的
- 3.
Being intentionally concealed so as to deceive.
故意隐瞒以欺骗的
在特定界限以外的；将来的；位于更远处或另一边的；超出明显或显而易见的；故意隐瞒以欺骗的；隐秘不明的
In use
She suspected he had an ulterior motive for offering to help.
His ulterior purpose was to discredit his rival.
I began to wonder if there was an ulterior reason for his sudden friendliness.
ulterior + noun (motive/aim/purpose)
ulterior 通常作定语，修饰表示动机或目的的名词。
She had an ulterior motive for helping him.
她帮助他另有不可告人的目的。
have an ulterior motive
I suspect he has an ulterior motive for his sudden generosity.
我怀疑他突然慷慨另有目的。
Common mistakes
He achieved his ulterior goal.
Connections
Collocations
- ulterior motive
- 不可告人的动机；隐藏的意图
- I don't trust his offer; I suspect he has an ulterior motive.我不信任他的提议；我怀疑他别有用心。
- ulterior purpose
- 隐秘的目的；私下的目标
- The charity event may have an ulterior purpose beyond raising money.这场慈善活动可能除了筹款之外还有隐秘的目的。
- ulterior design
- 暗中的计谋；不可告人的企图
- Her kindness turned out to be part of an ulterior design.她的好意原来是一个不可告人的企图的一部分。
- ulterior intentions
- 不纯的意图；隐藏的心思
- He asked for her number with ulterior intentions.他索要她的电话，带有不可告人的目的。
- ulterior agenda
- 隐蔽的议程；别有用心的安排
- The report seemed factual, but the author had an ulterior agenda.这份报告看上去客观，但作者另有企图。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
想象冰山：露出的部分是 obvious（明显），水下的部分就是 ulterior——超出表面、藏起来的动机。记住 ulterior motive 指不可告人的目的。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：新闻报道、日常交谈、文学影视作品 该词表示“故意隐瞒的、另有目的的”时，语气中性偏正式；在讨论行为背后隐藏的动机或意图时比较常见于新闻报道、日常交谈和文学影视作品中。
Pronunciation & Spelling
All six words share the final stressed vowel /ɪə/ and the following sounds /riə/, so they all rhyme with ulterior. The -terior words (interior, exterior, anterior, posterior) also share the spelling chunk -terior. Inferior and superior are lookalikes with different spellings (-ferior/-perior) but the same rhyme. Be careful: ulterior is not pronounced like 'utter' or 'altar'; its -terior part sounds like 'teer-ee-ə', not 'ter'.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.