bad inclination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad inclination" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a tendency or urge to engage in negative or undesirable behavior. Example: "Despite his good intentions, he often found himself giving in to his bad inclination to procrastinate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But at a time when full-time jobs are scarce, it doesn't seem like such a bad inclination.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I'd like to think sexual harassment is a sign of the times, that young men and women today won't have the inclination, bad humor or repressed personalities to bring this behavior into their professional lives as they become successful.

Huffington Post

Much as I hate to say it, Chinese-Italian opera and Italian opera share an inclination toward bad acting.

The New York Times - Arts

If there is going to be bad government, most people's inclination is to prefer their own.

The Economist

Mr. Netanyahu's lawyer, Yaakov Weinroth, accused the police of bad faith in leaking their inclination before the investigation was finished.

The New York Times

For that reason, we must put a stop to such stories lest they produce in youth a strong inclination" to do bad things.

Yale University

In addition to providing the right training, companies can build support systems that warn managers when they might be making bad decisions because of the inclination to think linearly.

Harvard Business Review

A monstrous body, on the other hand, indicates ill health, bad luck, and dubious moral inclinations.

SEP

The natural inclination is to think, "Too bad.

The Guardian - Sport

Tom Newton Dunn is only two weeks into the job but he already knew the prime minister had bad handwriting and poor eyesight so his inclination was to ease up.

The Guardian

Yet, according to Mr Varma, the Indian middle class shows little inclination to fight the corruption, bad governance and incompetence that hold back the poor and block upward mobility through education.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bad inclination", consider the intensity of the negativity you want to convey. Alternatives like "unfavorable urge" might be suitable for milder situations, while "evil impulse" is stronger.

Common error

Avoid using "bad inclination" for minor, everyday habits. It is more appropriately used for tendencies that have significant negative consequences or moral implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad inclination" functions as a noun phrase where "bad" modifies "inclination". It describes a tendency or predisposition towards something negative. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bad inclination" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that describes a tendency toward negative or undesirable behavior. While Ludwig AI confirms it's not among the most frequent phrases, it appears across various contexts, including news, academic writing, and encyclopedias, suggesting a versatile applicability. It's important to consider the degree of negativity you wish to convey when choosing alternatives like "unfavorable urge" or the stronger "evil impulse". Be mindful to avoid using it for trivial situations, reserving it for more significant negative tendencies. Overall, "bad inclination" is a valid and useful phrase for expressing concern about negative predispositions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negative tendency

Replaces "inclination" with a more general term for a habitual way of behaving.

unfavorable urge

Substitutes "inclination" with "urge", emphasizing a strong desire, and "bad" with "unfavorable", softening the negativity.

undesirable tendency

Highlights that the tendency is not wanted or approved of.

poor disposition

Replaces "inclination" with "disposition", which refers to a person's inherent qualities of mind and character.

negative predisposition

Emphasizes a pre-existing tendency towards something negative.

unwholesome propensity

Uses "propensity" to indicate a natural tendency and "unwholesome" to highlight the negative aspect.

ill-advised impulse

Focuses on the impulsive aspect of the inclination, describing it as poorly considered.

wrongful leaning

Uses "leaning" to suggest a tendency and "wrongful" to denote its inappropriate nature.

evil impulse

Replaces "inclination" with "impulse", emphasizing a sudden, strong urge and using "evil" to denote extreme negativity.

corrupting influence

Focuses on the power of the inclination to lead to corruption.

FAQs

How can I use "bad inclination" in a sentence?

You can use "bad inclination" to describe a tendency towards negative or undesirable behavior. For example: "Despite his efforts, he couldn't overcome his "bad inclination" to procrastinate."

What are some alternatives to "bad inclination"?

Some alternatives to "bad inclination" include "negative tendency", "unfavorable urge", or "poor disposition", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "bad inclination" or "evil inclination"?

"Evil inclination" carries a stronger, more morally charged connotation than "bad inclination". Use "evil inclination" when describing a tendency towards profound wrongdoing.

What is the difference between "inclination" and "tendency"?

"Inclination" suggests a leaning or predisposition, while "tendency" implies a habitual pattern. Therefore, a "bad inclination" is an initial leaning towards something negative, whereas a bad tendency is a repeated negative behavior.