admirable intentions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "admirable intentions" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's good or commendable motives behind their actions or decisions. Example: "Despite the challenges faced, her admirable intentions shone through in every project she undertook."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

The care bill has admirable intentions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite its admirable intentions, however, the ECI has proven a damp squib.

The Washington Post

Publishers might have had admirable intentions, she says, but if they colluded with Apple they violated the law.

The New Yorker

Our school.'" Noble, admirable intentions but the school has not been enough in a world where money rules.

The Guardian - Sport

If Thursday's audience was perhaps more inclined than most to credit the American characters with admirable intentions, they also found humor in somewhat different places.

The New York Times

Simply having admirable intentions won't be enough to win support for your big idea in developing markets – even if you're bringing the best code in the world.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Theresa May has the admirable intention of restoring confidence in government by paying careful attention to the discontents of the 52% who voted Brexit.

The Guardian - Opinion

His admirable intention was to head off a turbulent market response to political uncertainty with a clear and sustainable route from hung parliament to stable government that, as he told MPs, "can carry through the key decisions that are needed".

The Guardian - Opinion

"Today, with the admirable intention of providing justice for one criminal defendant, the court not only pries open the door; it rules that respecting the privacy of the jury room, as our legal system has done for centuries, violates the Constitution," Alito said.

Los Angeles Times

Ying's political ideas are admirable, his intentions are honorable — and he's a true and rare artist.

The New Yorker

While the effort is rooted in admirable, humanitarian intentions, the push to refer to all relocating individuals as "refugees" instead of the seemingly-neutral umbrella term "migrant" is misguided and inaccurate.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "admirable intentions", consider contrasting them with unintended consequences to create nuance and avoid overly simplistic portrayals.

Common error

Avoid assuming that having "admirable intentions" automatically guarantees positive outcomes. Acknowledge potential downsides or complexities to maintain credibility and analytical depth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "admirable intentions" functions as a noun phrase, where "admirable" modifies the noun "intentions". As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe motives or aims that are worthy of praise and commendation. Examples in Ludwig show its use in various contexts, often highlighting the positive aspects of actions or plans.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "admirable intentions" is a commonly used phrase that describes positive and praiseworthy motives behind actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears most frequently in news and media, formal business contexts, and academia. While the phrase is generally positive, it is important to consider whether the outcomes align with the intentions. Alternatives such as "commendable motives" or "noble aspirations" can be used to convey similar meanings. However it is important to note that "admirable intentions" don't always translate into desirable results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commendable motives

Focuses on the driving force behind actions, emphasizing their praiseworthy nature.

noble aspirations

Highlights the high-minded and virtuous quality of the goals.

laudable aims

Emphasizes the deserving of praise and admiration quality of the objectives.

praiseworthy goals

Directly points out that the objectives are worthy of being praised.

honorable purposes

Highlights the ethical and principled nature of the reasons for doing something.

altruistic motives

Stresses the selfless concern for others that drives the actions.

benevolent designs

Emphasizes the well-meaning and kindly nature of the plans.

worthy ambitions

Highlights the value and merit of the aspirations.

principled motivations

Focuses on the moral and ethical basis of the driving forces.

righteous objectives

Highlights the morally justifiable and upright nature of the goals.

FAQs

How can I use "admirable intentions" in a sentence?

You can use "admirable intentions" to describe the good motives behind actions, such as: "Despite the project's failure, the team's "admirable intentions" were clear".

What are some alternatives to "admirable intentions"?

Alternatives include "commendable motives", "noble aspirations", or "laudable aims", which all emphasize the positive and praiseworthy nature of the goals.

Is it always appropriate to describe actions as having "admirable intentions"?

While the phrase is generally positive, consider whether the outcomes align with the intentions. If actions led to negative results, acknowledge this discrepancy to avoid appearing naive or biased. It is important to remember that "admirable intentions" do not guarantee success.

What's the difference between "admirable intentions" and "good intentions"?

"Admirable intentions" suggests a higher degree of praiseworthiness and nobility compared to "good intentions". While both indicate positive motives, "admirable" implies that the intentions are particularly commendable or virtuous. Depending on the context both "admirable intentions" and "good intentions" can be considered correct.