harmful relationship

USAGE SUMMARY

"harmful relationship" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to a relationship that causes, or has the potential to cause, harm or damage to one or both parties involved. Example: "The therapist helped Jane recognize that her marriage was a harmful relationship, and encouraged her to seek counseling and leave the abusive situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The hope is that patients come to see the psychological cost of a harmful relationship and act to change it.

The New York Times - Health

And we have a tendency to mirror this behaviour in our work with children and families, where the focus is on watching families struggle rather than effectively intervening to stop harmful relationship patterns.

The Guardian

For a person who hasn't experienced abuse, it can be hard to understand why words can be so damaging and why a person might stay in a harmful relationship.

Columbia University

"Giving food labels like that fuels a diet culture and harmful relationship with food," Hogan said.

Huffington Post

Every harmful relationship we leave without shame sends a confident nod to others in those shoes.

Huffington Post

We're all sadly aware of instances where a relative, coach or friendly neighbor has fostered a connection with a youngster in order to establish an inappropriate, harmful relationship.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"The onus must be on adults to provide them with evidence-based education and support and help them to develop healthy, not harmful relationships with one another.

Independent

These students can be dealing with harmful relationships at home and then come to school to manage relationships not only with their teachers but also with social workers, police officers, and clinicians all while living out their daily lives.

University of California, Berkeley

"As such, missing from home, substance misuse, exploitation and engaging in harmful relationships are commonplace for some young people.

BBC

You will eventually notice the negative behavior occurring around you and choose to remove yourself from harmful relationships.

Huffington Post

The unadjusted relationship between mean daily sunlight exposure and suicide revealed significant harmful relationships between mean daily sunlight exposure and suicide (incident rate ratio (IRR)=1.018; 95% CI 1.012 to 1.0241; p<0.001 (table 3).

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about relationships, be specific about the type of harm involved (emotional, physical, psychological) to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "harmful relationship" as a catch-all term. Instead, identify specific behaviors or patterns that make the relationship harmful, such as manipulation, control, or abuse.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harmful relationship" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object or subject of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a connection that causes damage or harm, evidenced in numerous examples spanning news, science, and academic domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harmful relationship" is a commonly used noun phrase that describes connections causing damage. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity, with usage spanning across news, science, and academic sources. When using this phrase, specificity regarding the type of harm is beneficial. Alternatives include "negative relationship" or "toxic relationship". While prevalent in media and scientific contexts, avoid overgeneralizing the type of harm to maintain clarity. The phrase is grammatically correct and versatile, making it a useful term for discussing detrimental connections.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Negative relationship

Focuses on the negative aspects without explicitly stating harm.

Toxic relationship

Emphasizes the poisonous or destructive nature of the relationship.

Abusive relationship

Specifically denotes a relationship involving abuse.

Damaging relationship

Highlights the damage caused by the relationship.

Unhealthy relationship

A broader term indicating a lack of well-being within the relationship.

Detrimental relationship

Formal term indicating that the relationship causes harm or damage.

Dysfunctional relationship

Suggests an impairment of normal interpersonal conduct.

Destructive relationship

Emphasizes the ruinous effects of the relationship.

Unwholesome relationship

Suggests the relationship has negative implications for your health and well-being.

Adverse relationship

A formal term indicating that the relationship is working against your best interests.

FAQs

What are some signs of a "harmful relationship"?

Signs of a "harmful relationship" include constant arguments, feeling controlled or manipulated, experiencing emotional or physical abuse, and a general sense of unhappiness or anxiety in the relationship.

What can I say instead of "harmful relationship"?

You can use alternatives like "negative relationship", "toxic relationship", or "abusive relationship" depending on the specific context.

How do I get out of a "harmful relationship"?

Leaving a "harmful relationship" can be difficult. It's essential to prioritize your safety, seek support from friends, family, or a therapist, and create a plan for leaving safely. Consider consulting with a domestic violence advocate for guidance and resources.

What's the difference between a "harmful relationship" and an "unhealthy relationship"?

While both terms describe problematic connections, a "harmful relationship" typically involves more severe or explicit damage, such as abuse or manipulation, whereas an "unhealthy relationship" might involve less severe issues like poor communication or unmet needs.