inimical relationship

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inimical relationship" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a relationship that is hostile, unfriendly, or harmful between two parties. Example: "The two companies have developed an inimical relationship due to their competing interests in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wikipedia

The Guardian

BMC Nursing

HuffPost

SEP

The New York Times

The Economist

Encyclopedia Britannica

Independent

Yale University

MIT Technology Review

The Washington Post

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Lyrically, "Stronger" explores the theme of moving on from an inimical relationship.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The need to be marked, to move up a level or maintain one's grade is, I believe, deeply inimical to the proper relationship between advocate and judge and, more importantly, the trust the client has in that relationship.

The Guardian

"The need to be marked, to move up a level or maintain one's grade is," he suggested, "deeply inimical to the proper relationship between advocate and judge".

The Guardian

The result has been instability and fragmentation which is inimical to settled joint relationships.

The Guardian

Our study identified staff shortage, lack of appreciation, particularly of nurses' work by doctors, activist unionism and government policies that were perceived to be more favorable to doctors as inimical to good working relationships between nurses and doctors in Nigeria.

BMC Nursing

It has been suggested that 'Meyerbeer's choice of these topics is not accidental; they reflect his own sense of living in a potentially inimical society.' Meyerbeer's relationship with Heine displays the awkwardness and prickliness of the social personas of both parties.

Wikipedia

Russia maintained good relationships throughout the 1990s with the intelligence services of regimes inimical to U.S. intentions and it now has a vibrant relationship with Venezuela and Bolivia, for example, due to their shared antagonism towards U.S. influence.

HuffPost

So casual sex is dangerous, but then he says he can't do lasting relationships either - he sees them as inimical to art.

The Guardian - Arts

"And the Government's unrestrained power to assemble data that reveal private aspects of identity is susceptible to abuse... [and] may 'alter the relationship between citizen and government in a way that is inimical to democratic society.'".

Huffington Post

If autonomy is somehow conceived as inimical to being a woman because, for example, being a women involves valuing social relationships of care whereas being autonomous devalues such relationships one denies women, in particular, the social and political advantages associated with the label "autonomous".

SEP

In her blindness, Courage embodies an uncomfortably familiar modern disfigurement: a relationship to commodities, money and the marketplace that perverts human relationships and is ultimately inimical to life.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of a negative situation on individuals or groups, use "inimical relationship" to highlight the deeply harmful or obstructive nature of the connection. For example: "The prolonged conflict fostered an "inimical relationship" between the two communities, hindering reconciliation efforts."

Common error

Avoid using "inimical relationship" when a milder term like "difficult relationship" or "strained relationship" would suffice. "Inimical" suggests a fundamental opposition or hostility, which may be too strong for some situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inimical relationship" functions as a noun phrase where "inimical" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "relationship". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. The adjective adds a sense of deep-seated antagonism or hostility to the relationship.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

8%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "inimical relationship" is a grammatically correct but relatively uncommon way to describe a connection characterized by deep-seated hostility or harm. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, noting its proper usage in describing fundamentally opposed connections. While alternatives like "hostile relationship" or "antagonistic relationship" may be more frequently used, "inimical relationship" adds a layer of formality and intensity suitable for news, academic, and professional contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the situation warrants the strong negative connotation it carries, avoiding its use when milder terms would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hostile connection

Replaces "inimical" with "hostile", emphasizing antagonism.

antagonistic bond

Substitutes "relationship" with "bond" and "inimical" with "antagonistic", suggesting active opposition.

damaging association

Uses "damaging" instead of "inimical", focusing on the harmful effects of the association.

detrimental liaison

Replaces "relationship" with "liaison" and "inimical" with "detrimental", highlighting the negative impact.

harmful affiliation

Emphasizes the damaging nature of the "affiliation" using "harmful" instead of "inimical".

unfavorable connection

Replaces "inimical" with "unfavorable", softening the negative connotation.

adverse alliance

Uses "adverse" in place of "inimical", indicating an opposing or disadvantageous alliance.

negative rapport

Replaces "relationship" with "rapport" and "inimical" with "negative", simply denoting a lack of positivity.

conflicting dynamic

Substitutes "relationship" with "dynamic" and uses "conflicting" instead of "inimical", focusing on the inherent clash.

problematic interaction

Replaces "relationship" with "interaction" and "inimical" with "problematic", suggesting difficulties within the interaction.

FAQs

How can I use "inimical relationship" in a sentence?

You can use "inimical relationship" to describe a situation where a connection between two parties is fundamentally opposed or harmful. For instance, "The trade war created an "inimical relationship" between the two nations."

What are some alternatives to "inimical relationship"?

Alternatives include "hostile relationship", "antagonistic relationship", or "damaging relationship", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What distinguishes an "inimical relationship" from a simply "difficult relationship"?

An "inimical relationship" implies a fundamental opposition or deep-seated hostility that actively undermines the connection. A "difficult relationship" may simply involve challenges and disagreements without the same level of inherent antagonism.

Is "inimical relationship" a commonly used phrase?

While grammatically correct, "inimical relationship" is not as common as simpler alternatives like "hostile relationship". Its use often lends a more formal or sophisticated tone to the writing.