deviant thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

"Deviant thoughts" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to thoughts that are outside the normal range of thinking accepted by a particular group or society. For example, "He had some strange and very deviant thoughts that challenged even his own beliefs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Professor Thaler has written that he began to have "deviant thoughts" in graduate school.

The New York Times

One instrument, the polygraph, is routinely used to determine if people continue to offend once conditionally released or have deviant thoughts in the course of treatment.

The New York Times

Tareq al-Suwaidan, who has more than 1.9 million Twitter followers, was told that there is no place for those who carry deviant thoughts at the Al Resalah channel.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many of his competitors are his fellow Qum clerics, who are campaigning for elections on Friday on a platform of calling for purging the country of "deviant thoughts" and Western influence.

The New York Times

Mr. Flachmeyer, 33, known in the building as Flash, is not allowed to watch the Disney Channel as a condition of his probation, and he keeps a bottle of ammonia in his room, dutifully sniffing at its mouth to snap back to reality when he has deviant thoughts.

The New York Times

Everyone has deviant thoughts, about murder, sex, stealing, etc.... some harder to fight then others, understand that that person went through a lot & the government demonstrates high safety for society and so should you, that does not mean it's okay to let your kids play out side by themselves they should until a certain age anyway.3.3

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

There are 42 so far, including avoiding places where children congregate, abstaining from alcohol, shunning the Internet and sniffing ammonia whenever he has a deviant thought.

The New York Times

Youths must masturbate to a deviant thought, then, at peak arousal, switch to an image of "something that you find disgusting . . .

The New Yorker

Among effective forms of treatment for pedophilia are cognitive and behavioral therapies that employ empathy training and restructuring of distorted and deviant thought patterns.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It has also raised real questions about China's ability to stanch the flow of information over the Internet — a project on which the Chinese government already has expended untold riches, and written countless software algorithms to weed deviant thought from the world's largest cyber-community.

The New York Times

Hardline Saudi clerics have called on the government to ban women from appearing on television and to prohibit their images in print media, which they called a sign of growing "deviant thought".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deviant thoughts", ensure the context clearly indicates what societal or moral norms are being deviated from to avoid ambiguity or misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "deviant thoughts" in casual conversation or informal writing where a simpler term like "unusual thoughts" or "strange ideas" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deviant thoughts" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "deviant" modifies the noun "thoughts". It describes thoughts that stray from what is considered normal, acceptable, or moral within a particular social context. Ludwig provides examples of its usage in diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "deviant thoughts" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe thoughts that deviate from societal norms or expectations. While not exceptionally common, Ludwig's AI and examples confirm its acceptability in various contexts, particularly in news media, science, and wiki sources. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is best used when the context clarifies the specific norms being violated. While alternatives like "abnormal thoughts" or "unconventional thoughts" exist, "deviant thoughts" carries a distinct connotation related to moral or social transgression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abnormal thoughts

Replaces "deviant" with "abnormal", emphasizing the departure from the norm.

unconventional thoughts

Substitutes "deviant" with "unconventional", highlighting the non-standard nature of the thoughts.

unorthodox thoughts

Replaces "deviant" with "unorthodox", stressing the departure from established beliefs or practices.

perverse thoughts

Uses "perverse" instead of "deviant", suggesting a morally wrong or distorted quality.

strange thoughts

Replaces "deviant" with "strange", focusing on the unusual or peculiar aspect of the thoughts.

unacceptable thoughts

Substitutes "deviant" with "unacceptable", emphasizing the social or moral disapproval of the thoughts.

disturbing thoughts

Replaces "deviant" with "disturbing", highlighting the unsettling nature of the thoughts.

inappropriate thoughts

Uses "inappropriate" instead of "deviant", stressing the unsuitability of the thoughts in a given context.

forbidden thoughts

Replaces "deviant" with "forbidden", suggesting that the thoughts are taboo or prohibited.

taboo thoughts

Substitutes "deviant" with "taboo", highlighting the culturally unacceptable nature of the thoughts.

FAQs

How can I use "deviant thoughts" in a sentence?

You can use "deviant thoughts" to describe thoughts that stray from the norm. For example, "The character struggled with "deviant thoughts" that challenged his deeply held beliefs."

What are some alternatives to "deviant thoughts"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "abnormal thoughts", "unconventional thoughts", or "perverse thoughts".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "deviant thoughts"?

The phrase "deviant thoughts" is suitable when describing thoughts that significantly deviate from accepted norms or moral standards. It is often used in psychological, sociological, or legal contexts.

What is the difference between "deviant thoughts" and "unusual thoughts"?

"Deviant thoughts" implies a more significant departure from accepted norms, often with moral or social implications, while "unusual thoughts" simply suggests thoughts that are uncommon or atypical without necessarily being morally questionable.