evil thinking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "evil thinking" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe thoughts or ideas that are morally wrong or malevolent. Example: "His evil thinking led him to make harmful decisions." Alternative expressions include "malicious thoughts," "wicked thinking," and "sinister ideas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Times Square bombing attempt is another example of a well-off American who was recruited into the black and white, us versus them and good versus evil thinking that cultists use.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Lesser of two evils thinking is what has gotten us to this place.

Huffington Post

Then there are difficult moral questions about the nature of evil, and whether a person who commits evil while thinking he is doing good (and Hitler was probably in that category) is himself evil or just tragically mistaken?

The New York Times

Is Super Evil Megacorp thinking about what this trend means for mobile games like Vainglory?

The Guardian - Tech

What were the mothers of these evil scientists thinking?

Science Magazine

Evil, evil, evil.

TechCrunch

Still, evil-thinking grown-ups are not this show's target audience.

The New York Times

"When confronted with political evil, we are better off responding to the 'political' rather than to the 'evil.' " Coping with political evil, then, requires thinking like a politician, not a missionary or a soldier or a lawyer; it requires a savvy assessment of the facts on the ground and a willingness to deal with them — quite literally, since unsavory deals are in the very nature of politics.

The New York Times - Books

Unlike the senior members of Al Qaeda, Zarqawi was obsessed with fighting the Shiites, "the most evil of mankind," thinking that he would unite the much larger Sunni world into a definitive conquest of what he saw as the great Islamic heresy.

The New Yorker

Ever since Friendster in the early 00s I've watched many friends succumb to the evil world of thinking the outside world cares about them.

Vice

"When I found songs like 'I'd Rather Be Burned as a Witch' and 'I Wanna Be Evil,' I was thinking, 'Oh my God, how did she get away with this?'" Marie says.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "evil thinking", ensure that the context clearly establishes the malicious or morally reprehensible nature of the thoughts being described. Consider using specific examples to illustrate the manifestation of this thinking.

Common error

Avoid attributing "evil thinking" loosely. Reserve this term for situations where there is clear intent or a pattern of malicious or harmful thoughts. Overusing it can dilute its impact and create unnecessary alarm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "evil thinking" functions as a noun phrase, where "evil" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "thinking". It describes the quality or character of the thinking process. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and used in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "evil thinking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, primarily within news and media, science, and wiki contexts. Ludwig confirms its validity, highlighting its role in describing thought processes characterized by malice or immorality. Alternative phrases like "malicious mindset" or "wicked contemplation" offer nuanced ways to convey similar concepts. While generally correct, it's essential to avoid overgeneralizing the term and ensure the context clearly warrants its use. Remember: use "evil thinking" when you want to denote a thought process that goes beyond basic negativity, embodying malicious intent or moral corruption.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious mindset

Emphasizes the intentionality and ingrained nature of malevolence in one's thoughts.

wicked contemplation

Highlights the sinister and immoral aspect of the thought process.

malevolent reasoning

Focuses on the harmful intent behind the line of thought.

sinister ideation

Implies a dark and foreboding nature of ideas.

immoral deliberation

Stresses the lack of ethical principles in the thought process.

corrupt mentality

Indicates a state of moral decay affecting one's thoughts.

depraved cogitation

Suggests extreme moral corruption and degradation in thinking.

nefarious cerebration

Emphasizes the wickedness and vileness of the mental activity.

pernicious intellect

Focuses on the destructive potential of one's intelligence when used for evil.

unethical ideation

Highlights the absence of moral principles in the formation of ideas.

FAQs

How can I use "evil thinking" in a sentence?

You can use "evil thinking" to describe thoughts that are morally wrong or malevolent. For example, "His "evil thinking" led him to make harmful decisions."

What phrases are similar to "evil thinking"?

Similar phrases include "malicious mindset", "wicked contemplation", or "malevolent reasoning", each emphasizing different aspects of harmful thoughts.

Is "evil thinking" always intentional?

While "evil thinking" often implies intentionality, it can also refer to patterns of thought that, regardless of intent, lead to harmful outcomes or perpetuate morally reprehensible ideas. Understanding the context is crucial.

How does "evil thinking" differ from simply having negative thoughts?

"Evil thinking" goes beyond mere negativity; it involves thoughts that are inherently malicious, harmful, or morally corrupt. Negative thoughts may be unpleasant or pessimistic, but they don't necessarily entail the intent to cause harm or promote immorality.