foul purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

"foul purpose" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used in any situation where someone's intentions or motives are deceitful or wicked. Example: "The politician's seemingly charitable actions were actually driven by a foul purpose to gain votes and increase their own power."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Law was prepared to twist the Sacrament itself to his own foul purpose, even exploiting the ritual gesture of hands imposed on a vulnerable penitent's head.

The New Yorker

Its "utterly foul" purpose, under Obama, is to get people dependent on government "handouts" and to destroy "the tradition of tightening your belt and taking care of yourself when times get tough": Many of you have probably heard the Chinese proverb, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And pointing out that the wealthy use tax shelters to avoid estate tax payments, anyway, is about as significant as pointing out that basketball players sometimes foul on purpose to stop a dwindling clock.

Huffington Post

After a while, Suzuki assured his puzzled coaches that he was flicking the fouls on purpose, so he could see as many offerings as possible from the new pitchers he would be facing.

The New York Times - Sports

He was fouled on purpose to give him a chance to score.

Huffington Post

"That and the fact that at the end of the game they had to foul us on purpose, which I really think made it much more lopsided that it really was".

The New York Times - Sports

There were plenty of questions for McHale, actually, first and foremost his decision to continually have the Rockets foul Jordan on purpose.

Los Angeles Times

With less than five minutes remaining, Coach Don Nelson ordered the little-used reserve Tariq Abdul-Wahad to begin fouling Bruce Bowen on purpose.

The New York Times - Sports

Artest said he fouled Snow on purpose, but did not think it should have been considered flagrant.

The New York Times - Sports

Jeremy Lin was the only one who ran back on defense and fouled him on purpose to prevent an easy basket.

Huffington Post

It has to be on purpose, a foul on purpose.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "foul purpose" when you want to convey a sense of moral repugnance and deliberate malice behind an action or plan. It's particularly effective in formal writing or when describing actions that violate ethical standards.

Common error

Avoid using "foul purpose" in casual conversation or informal writing. The phrase's strong connotations of moral corruption can sound overly dramatic or out of place in lighter contexts. Opt for simpler, less loaded terms like "bad intention" or "negative aim" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "foul purpose" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "foul" modifies the noun "purpose". Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and commonly used. It typically acts as the object of a preposition or a subject complement, describing the nature of an intent or goal.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "foul purpose" is a grammatically correct and relatively rare phrase used to describe a morally reprehensible intention. As Ludwig AI confirms, it finds its place primarily in news media contexts, conveying a sense of disapproval or condemnation. While acceptable, writers should consider the register and ensure it fits the overall tone, perhaps opting for alternatives like "malicious intent" or "nefarious scheme" in specific scenarios. The key is to utilize "foul purpose" when highlighting a deeply unethical and deliberately malevolent objective is essential to the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious intent

Replaces "foul" with "malicious", focusing on the harmful nature of the intent.

nefarious scheme

Substitutes both words for stronger, more descriptive alternatives.

wicked design

Replaces "foul" and "purpose" with synonyms emphasizing immorality and planning.

evil objective

Changes "foul" to "evil", highlighting the malevolent nature of the goal.

corrupt aim

Focuses on the degradation and immorality associated with the purpose.

deceitful intention

Highlights the dishonesty and trickery involved in the purpose.

sinister motive

Emphasizes the ominous and threatening aspect of the underlying reason.

immoral goal

Simplifies the phrase while retaining the negative ethical connotation.

unethical intent

Directly addresses the lack of moral principles guiding the purpose.

underhanded plan

Focuses on the sneaky and dishonest methods used to achieve the purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "foul purpose" in a sentence?

You can use "foul purpose" to describe a morally reprehensible intention behind someone's actions. For example, "The villain's actions were driven by a "foul purpose" to seize control of the kingdom."

What are some alternatives to "foul purpose"?

Alternatives include "malicious intent", "nefarious scheme", or "wicked design". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "foul purpose" the same as "bad intention"?

While similar, "foul purpose" carries a stronger connotation of moral corruption and deliberate evil than "bad intention". "Bad intention" can refer to simple selfishness or thoughtlessness, while "foul purpose" suggests a deeper level of malice.

Which is more appropriate, "foul purpose" or "evil intent"?

"Foul purpose" and "evil intent" are very similar in meaning, both indicating a morally reprehensible motivation. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference or the specific context. "Foul purpose" might be slightly more formal or literary.