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ulterior

4 syllables
adjective
Quick answer

As an adjective, ulterior means situated beyond, or on the farther side.

Meanings of ulterior

7 meanings

adjective

  1. Situated beyond, or on the farther side.

  2. Beyond what is obvious or evident.

  3. Being intentionally concealed so as to deceive.

  4. 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”

    Similar: subterranean, subterraneous

  5. Beyond or outside an area of immediate interest; remote

    “a suggestion ulterior to the present discussion”

    “without … any purpose, immediate or ulterior”

  6. Coming at a subsequent time or stage

    “without ulterior argument”

    “the mood posterior to”

    Similar: later, posterior
Older and rare meanings (1)

  1. archaicHappening later; subsequent.

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).

Synonyms by meaning

adjective: lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed (especiall…
subterraneansubterraneous
adjective: coming at a subsequent time or stage
laterposterior

Words that rhyme with ulterior

superiorinteriorinferiorexterioranteriorcheerier

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Nearby words

ulcerateulcerationulcerousullageulnaulsterultimateultimatelyultimatumultraultraconservativeultramarine