ascription of motives

noun phrase

1. The act of attributing or assuming that someone has particular reasons or intentions for doing something, especially without sufficient evidence.

   C1

   usually uncountableformal

   • "The article avoids the ascription of motives to people it criticizes."B2
   • "Ascription of motives can make a disagreement more personal and less productive."C1
   • "The judge warned against the unjustified ascription of political motives to the defendant's actions."C2