intent to do harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intent to do harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing motives, particularly in legal, psychological, or ethical discussions regarding actions that may cause injury or damage. Example: "The prosecutor argued that the defendant had the intent to do harm when he planned the attack."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

But there have been other recent threats in which the intent to do harm was clear.

The New York Times

The truth is that even when intent to do harm seems obvious, online threats are rarely prosecuted.

The New York Times - Magazine

The PON community also deals with conflict where there is not just disagreement, but the intent to do harm to others.

Harvard University

The first category involves so-called "subjective bad faith," that is, fiduciary conduct motivated by an actual intent to do harm...

Harvard University

"In one instance, there is an intent to do harm to the United States -- that's a legal judgment that's been made.

The New York Times

Leakage is the communication to a third party of an intent to do harm to a target.

Security Informatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

They exchanged no words, though the veteran officer recognized in the man's eyes a clear shout of intent: to do bodily harm.

The New York Times

Those same eyes, in black and white, stare out of a mug shot, also part of the show, that was taken last summer, when Mr. Melgaard was arrested in Manhattan, charged with assault with intent to do bodily harm.

The New York Times - Arts

If so, it is said, the statute would be open to all the objections at which we have hinted in dealing with the word 'wilfully.' The supreme court did use some language which looked that way, but we consider it to have decided that the statute would be confined to combinations with intent to do wrongful harm.

Cornell University

In her work, Eubanks has suggested something close to a Hippocratic oath for those of us working with algorithms — an intent to do no harm, to stave off bias, to make sure that systems did not become cold, hard oppressors.

TechCrunch

The juvenile received an intent to do bodily harm and ethnic intimidation charge.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal matters or assessing blame, use "intent to do harm" to clearly establish the mental state of the perpetrator. This phrase avoids ambiguity and directly addresses the purposeful nature of the harmful actions.

Common error

Avoid using "intent to do harm" in everyday conversation where simpler phrases like "mean to hurt" or "try to damage" would suffice. Overusing formal language can make your communication sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intent to do harm" functions primarily as a noun phrase acting as an adverbial modifier, specifying the purpose or motivation behind an action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct. It often clarifies the reason why someone acted in a particular way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intent to do harm" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It serves to explicitly state the purpose behind an action, emphasizing that the harmful outcome was not accidental but rather a conscious objective. Predominantly found in formal contexts such as legal documents, news reports, and academic research, the phrase clearly establishes the mental state behind causing harm. When writing, it's important to consider the audience and context, reserving its usage for situations where the gravity and precision of the language are warranted. While interchangeable alternatives exist, such as "malicious intent" or "purpose to inflict harm", "intent to do harm" distinctly emphasizes the deliberate nature of the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious intent

Emphasizes the malevolent or spiteful nature of the intention.

purpose to inflict harm

Focuses on the deliberate act of causing harm, highlighting the active role of the perpetrator.

intention to cause injury

Specifically refers to physical or psychological damage.

design to create damage

Highlights planning and premeditation behind causing damage.

aim to bring about destruction

Focuses on a broader scope of harm, including destruction and devastation.

objective to inflict suffering

Emphasizes the emotional or physical pain intended to be caused.

plan to perpetrate violence

Focuses specifically on violent actions.

scheme to trigger devastation

Highlights the intentional creation of widespread ruin.

plot to generate havoc

Emphasizes the disruption and disorder resulting from the intent.

conspiracy to wreak vengeance

Highlights retaliation as the motive behind causing harm.

FAQs

How can I use "intent to do harm" in a sentence?

You can use "intent to do harm" to describe someone's motivation for an action, such as: "The prosecution argued that the defendant acted with the "intent to do harm" when he assaulted the victim.".

What are some alternatives to "intent to do harm"?

Some alternatives include "malicious intent", "purpose to inflict harm", or "intention to cause injury", depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "intent to do harm and damage"?

While not strictly redundant, it can be more concise to simply use "intent to do harm" as harm encompasses both physical and non-physical damage. Using both may add emphasis, but is often unnecessary.

What is the legal significance of "intent to do harm"?

In law, establishing "intent to do harm" is crucial for proving guilt in many crimes. It differentiates accidental actions from deliberate ones and can significantly impact sentencing.