harmful lie

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harmful lie" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a falsehood that causes damage or negative consequences to individuals or society. Example: "Spreading a harmful lie can lead to serious repercussions for those involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In other words, if you edit some of the comments on your site, you're not liable for the one with a harmful lie that you didn't edit, as a newspaper would be if it published a libelous letter to the editor.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But rare exceptions arrive when a book, even by a total unknown, spreads not sweetness and light but poison and murk – when its effect may be seriously pernicious, in cultivating harmful lies or fomenting hatred.

Independent

Study 2 was designed to avoid potential self-selection effects by randomly pairing principals and agents; it found that observing agents telling harmful black lies or seemingly harmless white lies led to increased immoral actions by their principals.

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

As adulthood approaches, young people learn instead to use the less harmful "white lies" that everyone tells to avoid hurting people's feelings.

Huffington Post

The development of fall detector systems that can accurately identify falls and alarm accordingly has potential to reduce harmful "long lies" on the floor, but the reliability of such technology depends on detection algorithms reflecting the reality of fall patterns in the population affected.

BMC Geriatrics

This is Aesop's argument as well, and much of what Aristotle says against lying also comes down to the idea that lies are harmful mostly to the teller of lies.

The New Yorker

Manufacturers that sell harmful products and then lie about their safety.

The New York Times

However her husband Trevor Kyle, who works in a nearby shelter, said: "A lot of them are my friends and it's almost harmful - if you lie on those you're going to get spiked and it sends out that message, which I think is wrong".

BBC

What has been so harmful is that truth lay therein.

The Guardian - Sport

In the wake of this under-the-radar ruling, the cost of protecting a community from a harmful building project now lies not with the developer but with the local residents and taxpayers.

The New York Times

Determine whether the person's lies are harmful.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "harmful lie", ensure the context clearly indicates the potential negative consequences or damage resulting from the falsehood. This provides clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the harm caused by the lie. Ensure the level of harm described aligns with the actual impact of the falsehood to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harmful lie" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "harmful" modifies the noun "lie". It describes a specific type of lie that carries negative consequences. Ludwig AI affirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harmful lie" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a falsehood that causes damage or negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English. Its frequency and appearance in diverse contexts, from news reports to scientific articles, indicate its versatility. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly conveys the potential damage and consider alternatives like "damaging falsehood" or "destructive untruth" for nuanced expression. Remember to avoid exaggerating the level of harm to maintain credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

damaging falsehood

Replaces 'lie' with 'falsehood' and 'harmful' with 'damaging', emphasizing the negative impact.

destructive untruth

Substitutes 'lie' with 'untruth' and 'harmful' with 'destructive', highlighting the potential for ruin.

pernicious fabrication

Replaces 'lie' with 'fabrication' and 'harmful' with 'pernicious', adding a sense of insidious harm.

malicious deception

Emphasizes the intent behind the lie by using 'malicious' instead of 'harmful' and 'deception' instead of 'lie'.

injurious falsehood

Replaces 'harmful' with 'injurious', focusing on the potential for causing injury or damage.

detrimental misrepresentation

Substitutes 'lie' with 'misrepresentation' and 'harmful' with 'detrimental', emphasizing the negative consequences of the false statement.

hurtful untruth

Replaces 'harmful' with 'hurtful', softening the tone while still conveying the negative impact.

deceitful and damaging statement

Expands the phrase to emphasize both the deceitful nature and the damaging effect.

toxic falsity

Uses 'toxic' to describe the harmful nature and 'falsity' as a more formal synonym for 'lie'.

calumnious lie

Replaces 'harmful' with 'calumnious', suggesting the lie is slanderous and defamatory.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "harmful lie"?

Alternatives include "damaging falsehood", "destructive untruth", or "pernicious fabrication", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does a "harmful lie" differ from a white lie?

A "harmful lie" involves significant negative consequences for individuals or society, whereas a white lie is typically a minor, harmless deception intended to avoid hurting someone's feelings. The key difference lies in the intent and potential impact.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "harmful lie"?

You might encounter this phrase in discussions about politics, media, ethics, or personal relationships, where the impact of misinformation or deception is being analyzed.

How can I effectively argue against a "harmful lie"?

Present factual evidence to disprove the lie, highlight the negative consequences of believing the lie, and appeal to the audience's sense of reason and ethics. Consider using credible sources to support your argument.