hostile intentions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hostile intentions" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe someone's attitude towards another person who they may be trying to harm or hurt. For example, "The intruder had hostile intentions towards the family when he broke into their home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Al Qaeda, on the other hand, has demonstrated hostile intentions but has little known nuclear capability.

The New Yorker

Research suggests that individuals high in anger have a bias for attributing hostile intentions to ambiguous situations.

Behavior Therapy

An artery is severed, but by shrapnel from a colleague's hammering rather than by any hostile intentions.

The New York Times - Books

Their supporters maintain that they were captured by mistake and had no hostile intentions toward the United States.

The New York Times

This bias reflects a documented tendency of schizophrenia patients with delusions to excessively attribute hostile intentions to people in their environment.

Psychiatry Research

"We have no hostile intentions against Turkey," Jihad Makdessi, a spokesman for the Syrian Foreign Ministry, told the Lebanese broadcaster LBC.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Continuing need for fortification would have implied either hostile intention or impending instability.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The giantess belongs to that frightening species of machines that are beginning to show signs of hostile intention.

The New York Times - Arts

Dr. Johnson's dictionary defined it as "the act of following with hostile intention," and McMahon adds that "if one thinks of pursuing happiness as one pursues a fugitive... the 'pursuit of happiness' takes on a somewhat different cast".

The New Yorker

"Now that the US has openly declared its hostile intention towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, by waging aggressive joint military exercises despite repeated warnings … my country has every reason to respond with tough counter-measures as an exercise of its right to self defence," Han Tae Song told the UN conference on disarmament, which is taking place in Geneva.

The Guardian

Do not threaten the owner with calling the police as this will set up a hostile intention between you.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hostile intentions", ensure the context clearly supports the presence of demonstrable malice or a clear threat. Vague or unsubstantiated claims can weaken the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid attributing "hostile intentions" based solely on suspicion or conjecture. Always ensure there is sufficient evidence or a reasonable basis for the assessment to avoid misrepresentation or defamation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hostile intentions" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the object of a verb or preposition, describing the nature of someone's plans or motivations. As Ludwig shows, it's often used in contexts involving international relations, legal matters, or personal conflicts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hostile intentions" serves to express a clear and present danger from plans meant to cause harm. Primarily found in News & Media and Science domains, it describes serious threats and malice and is considered grammatically correct. Alternatives like "aggressive motives" or "malicious designs" can be employed depending on the nuance one seeks to convey. Based on the examples provided by Ludwig, this phrase is useful in scenarios where there's a demonstrable threat. It's crucial to avoid baseless claims when ascribing such intentions to prevent misrepresentation. Overall, the phrase should be used to describe situations involving palpable and demonstrable malice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aggressive motives

Replaces "intentions" with "motives" and "hostile" with "aggressive", emphasizing the driving force behind the aggression.

belligerent aims

Substitutes "hostile" with "belligerent" and "intentions" with "aims", highlighting the combative nature of the objectives.

warlike purposes

Replaces "hostile" with "warlike" and "intentions" with "purposes", focusing on the aims related to conflict or war.

malicious designs

Changes "hostile" to "malicious" and "intentions" to "designs", suggesting a deliberate and harmful plan.

inimical objectives

Replaces "hostile" with "inimical" and "intentions" with "objectives", pointing to aims that are harmful or unfavorable.

antagonistic goals

Substitutes "hostile" with "antagonistic" and "intentions" with "goals", underlining aims that are actively opposing or conflicting.

threatening plans

Replaces "hostile" with "threatening" and "intentions" with "plans", highlighting the potential for harm or danger.

harmful schemes

Changes "hostile" to "harmful" and "intentions" to "schemes", suggesting secret and devious plans intended to cause damage.

vindictive aspirations

Replaces "hostile" with "vindictive" and "intentions" with "aspirations", emphasizing a strong desire for revenge.

malevolent objectives

Substitutes "hostile" with "malevolent", focusing on ill will or evil intentions behind the objectives.

FAQs

How can I use "hostile intentions" in a sentence?

You can use "hostile intentions" to describe someone's attitude or plans that are designed to harm or cause damage. For instance, "The country's military buildup raised concerns about its "hostile intentions" toward its neighbors."

What are some alternatives to "hostile intentions"?

Alternatives to "hostile intentions" include "aggressive motives", "belligerent aims", or "malicious designs". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "ill intentions" or "hostile intentions"?

While both phrases suggest negative motives, "hostile intentions" implies a more direct and aggressive threat than "ill intentions", which can be more general or subtle.

What's the difference between "negative intentions" and "hostile intentions"?

"Negative intentions" is a broader term that can include anything from mild disapproval to serious harm. "Hostile intentions" specifically suggests an active and aggressive desire to cause damage or injury. Therefore, "hostile intentions" always carry a higher level of threat.