harmful disposition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harmful disposition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a person's attitude or tendency that is detrimental or damaging to others or themselves. Example: "His harmful disposition made it difficult for him to maintain friendships and work relationships."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

A glance from an individual of a 'distempered' disposition was harmful because that person sent forth a 'distempered beam'9 (Figure 5).

Nature

Animals protect themselves from xenobiotic or endogenous harmful chemicals by biotransformation and disposition of the compounds.

BMC Genomics

The knowledge in the genome could also be used in harmful ways, particularly in revealing patients' disposition to disease if their privacy is not safeguarded, and in causing discrimination.

The New York Times

In this scenario, knowledge of the harmful effects of cognitive biases and a favourable disposition towards bias control are both presupposed.

Nature

It is sometimes objected that certain dispositions are beneficial in some contexts, but not beneficial, or even harmful, in others.

Bioethics

Disposition: Claim thrown out.

The New Yorker

Soulful expression; sweet disposition.

The New Yorker

'Probably' harmful?

Harvard University

Same sunny disposition.

The New York Times - Sports

Such is my disposition.

The Guardian - Arts

Something harmful?" She shrugged.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harmful disposition" when you want to emphasize the inherent nature of someone's negativity, rather than just their current mood or actions.

Common error

Be mindful of using "harmful disposition" too frequently. Overusing the term can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "toxic personality" or "destructive nature".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harmful disposition" functions as a descriptive term, typically used to characterize an individual's inherent nature or temperament. It combines an adjective ("harmful") with a noun ("disposition") to denote a tendency towards causing harm or negativity.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "harmful disposition" is a grammatically sound and understandable term used to describe a tendency towards causing harm or negativity. Ludwig AI indicates that it's a correct and usable phrase. While it is not overly frequent, it serves to negatively characterize an individual's personality. When using this phrase, it's best practice to provide specific examples to support the claim and to avoid overuse by incorporating synonyms like "toxic personality" or "destructive nature" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmful nature

A more compact phrase using synonyms, but less common than the original.

toxic personality

Emphasizes the damaging effect on others, akin to poison.

damaging personality

Concentrates on the personality's impact, indicating it causes harm.

destructive nature

Highlights an inherent tendency to cause ruin or damage.

detrimental mindset

Focuses on the damaging thought patterns of an individual.

malignant temperament

Suggests a deep-seated, harmful inner state.

pernicious character

Stresses the insidious and harmful impact of the individual's traits.

negative attitude

A milder alternative, focusing on mindset rather than inherent character.

deleterious temperament

A more formal expression, emphasizing the damaging qualities of a person's usual mood.

unfavorable inclination

Highlights a tendency that is not positive or helpful.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "harmful disposition" in a sentence?

To effectively use "harmful disposition", illustrate specific behaviors or attitudes associated with that person. For example: "His "harmful disposition" made it difficult for him to maintain relationships and resulted in frequent conflicts at work."

What are some alternative ways to describe a "harmful disposition"?

You can use alternatives like "toxic personality", "destructive nature", or "negative attitude" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between a "harmful disposition" and a "negative attitude"?

While both describe unfavorable traits, "harmful disposition" suggests a more ingrained and potentially damaging character trait, while "negative attitude" refers more to a temporary mindset or outlook.

When is it appropriate to use the term "harmful disposition"?

Use "harmful disposition" when you want to emphasize the inherent and detrimental nature of someone's character, particularly when their behavior consistently causes harm to themselves or others. Reserve it for situations where the negativity is deeply rooted, instead of occasional bad moods.