ill wishes

USAGE SUMMARY

"ill wishes" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe bad intentions or bad luck someone may have when speaking about someone or something. For example, you could say "I hope he doesn't obtain ill wishes from his peers for doing that".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He squirmed away at every opportunity; sometimes he pointed directly at Yao Ming and announced, with an air of sudden revelation, "Yao Ming!" For half an hour, the adults in the studio — cameramen, assistants, tech guys — had been silently aiming ill wishes his way, and maybe that was why, on the fourth take, Yao stumbled and accidentally rammed Little Fatty's nose against the rim.

The New Yorker

I have no ill wishes for you, Donald.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Black tourmaline will protect you from negative energies, such as the ill-wishes of others.

WikiHow

Don't ill-wish anybody, and when speaking to new people, appear interested in what they're saying.

WikiHow

She wished Miss Cotell no ill will, wished her all the peace in the world, but still could not help welcoming in a way that was natural to her the exhilaration she experienced.

The New Yorker

Recruiters are paid millions to have a stable of candidates that they feed to boards, steering the process in pursuit of the board's sometimes ill-defined wishes.

The New York Times

I remember having a bilious attack, kneeling with my head over the toilet and feeling so ill I wished I could die.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The ruling challenges parliament to re-examine the predicament of those who are severely ill and wish to die but cannot do so without medical assistance.

The Guardian

The ruling challenged parliament to re-examine the predicament of those who are severely ill and wish to die but cannot do so without medical assistance.

BBC

Seven terminally ill patients wishing to go home for dying were transferred home.

Critical Care

By contrast, Stiva, though never wishing ill, wastes resources, neglects his family, and regards pleasure as the purpose of life.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ill wishes" to specifically denote the intention or expression of wishing misfortune upon someone or something. It carries a stronger connotation than simply wishing someone "bad luck".

Common error

Avoid using "ill wishes" when you simply dislike someone or something. The phrase implies a deliberate intention to wish harm, not just a feeling of animosity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill wishes" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically representing the object of an action (e.g., aiming "ill wishes"). Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, denoting negative intentions or desires for misfortune.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ill wishes" is a noun phrase denoting negative intentions or a desire for misfortune towards someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical standing, even if it's infrequent. Typically, you'll find it in news articles, wikis, or scientific contexts to express or acknowledge negative intentions. While grammatically sound, the phrase carries a strong, and sometimes dramatic, connotation that you should employ carefully. Alternatives such as "malevolent desires" can be used depending on the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious intent

Centers on the deliberate desire to cause harm or suffering.

harmful desires

Highlights the potential for damage or injury implied by the wishes.

evil thoughts

Emphasizes the wickedness behind the wishes, focusing on the internal mental state.

malevolent desires

Replaces "ill" with a more formal synonym, "malevolent", emphasizing the malicious intent behind the wishes.

spiteful feelings

Focuses on the resentment or bitterness associated with the negative wishes.

negative intentions

Focuses on the intention behind the wishes, using a broader term for negativity.

unfavorable sentiments

Shifts the focus to the feelings or opinions, using a more formal and abstract term.

bad omens

Implies that something indicates a future misfortune, moving from intention to prediction.

negative vibes

Uses a more informal expression to describe an overall negative atmosphere or feeling.

bad karma

Indicates the belief that negative actions will lead to negative consequences, aligning with the concept of unfavorable destiny.

FAQs

How can I use "ill wishes" in a sentence?

You can use "ill wishes" to describe someone desiring misfortune for another, such as, "The adults in the studio were silently aiming "ill wishes" his way."

What's a formal way to express "ill wishes"?

A more formal alternative to "ill wishes" is "malevolent desires", which emphasizes the malicious intent behind the wishes.

Is it correct to say "I have ill wishes for you"?

While grammatically sound, it's more common to say "I bear no "ill will" towards you" or "I harbor no "ill will"" to express the absence of negative intentions. Saying "I have "ill wishes" for you" can sound overly dramatic or archaic.

What's the difference between "ill will" and "ill wishes"?

"Ill will" refers to a general feeling of animosity or resentment, while "ill wishes" specifically refers to the act of wishing misfortune or harm upon someone. "Ill will" is a state of mind, while "ill wishes" are an expression of that state.