despite the harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite the harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs or is true regardless of the negative consequences or damage that may result. Example: "She continued to advocate for the project despite the harm it caused to the environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

So what makes Britons rejoice in getting wasted, despite the harm?

The Guardian

Chu goes easy on Exodus International, the largest "ex-gay" ministry in the country, despite the harm the group does to vulnerable gays and lesbians, particularly gay children.

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Bush has made it clear that he will go ahead with a missile defense shield no matter what America's allies think -- and despite the harm it might inflict on America's fundamental relationships with Russia and China.

The New York Times

Why, we hear, are French politicians so reluctant to put up a fight against Angela Merkel and the politics of austerity, despite the harm they've done to the French economy?

The New Yorker

Andrew White, associate dean for executive education at Saïd Business School, says that "despite the harm that companies have caused from an environmental, employee and customer perspective, they have very few ways to say sorry.

The Guardian

When the amendments fail, the Senate is likely to pass the House version, and Mr. Obama seems likely to go along — despite the harm that would mean to investors, the markets and the economy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Despite the harms of overdiagnosis, little is known about the public's understanding of overdiagnosis or how overdiagnosis information may affect one's decision to undergo screening.

BMC Cancer

Despite the harms associated with smoking among cancer survivors, the prevalence of smoking among survivors remains similar to that of the US general population and is higher among young adult survivors than older survivors [ 27– 29] and may be higher than among their nonsurvivor peers [ 28– 30].

Cancer Causes and Control

"The sad thing is, smoking, despite all the harm it does, is left pretty much an orphan".

The New York Times

He said that, despite the defendants' claims, the harm threatened against Criado-Perez "must have been intended to be very high".

The Guardian

Despite mounting evidence of the harm associated with excessive nutrient loading to estuaries, tools to translate this body of knowledge into sound environmental management and planning practices in data-poor environments are lacking.

Ocean & Coastal Management

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "despite the harm", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being pursued or maintained, and what specific harm is being disregarded. This adds clarity and emphasizes the determination to proceed.

Common error

Avoid using "despite the harm" when the potential negative consequences are vague or undefined. Instead, specify the type and extent of harm to provide a clearer and more impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite the harm" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate concession or contrast. It highlights that an action or situation occurs even when negative consequences or damage are present. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is used to express a conscious decision to proceed irrespective of negative outcomes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite the harm" is a prepositional phrase used to express that something occurs or is pursued even when negative consequences or damage may result. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business. When using this phrase, clarity and precision are crucial, ensuring that the specific harm being disregarded is well-defined. Alternative phrases include "in spite of the damage", "regardless of the injury", and "notwithstanding the detriment". Overall, "despite the harm" is a valuable phrase for expressing resilience and determination, especially when acknowledging potential negative outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of the damage

Replaces "harm" with the more concrete "damage", focusing on physical or material detriment.

regardless of the injury

Substitutes "harm" with "injury", suggesting physical or emotional hurt.

notwithstanding the detriment

Uses the more formal "notwithstanding" and "detriment", indicating a formal or legalistic tone.

even with the peril

Replaces "harm" with "peril", emphasizing a sense of danger or risk.

at the cost of the well-being

Focuses on the sacrifice of "well-being" as a consequence.

ignoring the adverse effects

Highlights the act of "ignoring" the negative outcomes.

overlooking the repercussions

Emphasizes the act of "overlooking" the consequences.

disregarding the potential damage

Focuses on the "potential damage" being disregarded.

in defiance of the destruction

Conveys a sense of rebellion or resistance against impending "destruction".

with no regard for the suffering

Highlights the lack of consideration for "suffering".

FAQs

What does "despite the harm" mean?

The phrase "despite the harm" indicates that something is done or continues to happen even though it causes or could cause damage, injury, or negative consequences.

How can I use "despite the harm" in a sentence?

You can use "despite the harm" to show that an action is taken or a situation persists even with known negative effects. For example, "The company continued operations "despite the harm" to the environment".

What is a synonym for "despite the harm"?

Alternatives to "despite the harm" include phrases like "in spite of the damage", "regardless of the injury", or "notwithstanding the detriment".

Is it correct to say "in spite of the harm" instead of "despite the harm"?

Yes, "in spite of the harm" is a grammatically correct and semantically similar alternative to "despite the harm". Both phrases convey the same meaning of proceeding or persisting regardless of negative consequences.