intentional harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intentional harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions that are deliberately meant to cause injury or damage to someone or something. Example: "The investigation revealed that the defendant had caused intentional harm to the victim during the altercation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The numbers, contained in National Health Service data, suggest that the incidence of intentional harm against children may be rising.

The Guardian

In reality, health professionals monitored and calibrated the infliction of severe physical and mental pain, withheld medical treatment, and failed to document medical evidence of intentional harm.

The Guardian - Opinion

As does the troubling realisation that a doctor can face reprimand for inadvertent error but an alternative practitioner can get away with intentional harm.

The Guardian - Opinion

We should do all that we can to ensure that young people and the vulnerable are safeguarded from those who wish intentional harm.

The Guardian - Opinion

In January, 2005, he was detained for questioning about embezzlement, bribe-taking, and intentional harm regarding his role in arranging the killing of a contractor who sought to expose him.

The New Yorker

He says the hardest thing about the court case – apart from one preposterous moment in the trial when his behaviour was likened to that of a man who had knowingly infected his wife with HIV - was the 19th-century tort it was brought under, "intentional harm".

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Bullying, intentional harm-doing or harassment that is directed toward vulnerable targets and typically repeated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Terrorism is the intentional harming of innocent civilians for political purposes.

The New York Times

Please consider limiting your articles celebrating human courage and achievement to those that don't involve intentional harming and killing of any sentient being, human or nonhuman.

The New York Times

He remarks that "some cases of harming that the doctrine intuitively speaks against are arguably not cases of intentional harming, precisely because neither the harm itself (nor anything itself causally very close to it) is intended" (1991, p. 511).

SEP

"Being involved in the intentional harming of detainees … could do lasting damage to the integrity and reputation of psychology, a profession that purports to 'do no harm,'" he writes, but "these countervailing concerns were simply not considered or were highly subordinated to APA's strategic goals".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In medical or psychological contexts, specify the type of "intentional harm" (e.g., physical, emotional, psychological) to provide a more precise understanding of the impact.

Common error

Ensure that the term "intentional harm" is reserved for situations where there is clear evidence of deliberate intent. Using it loosely can lead to misinterpretations and legal complications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intentional harm" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes an action or outcome where harm is caused deliberately. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English and the analysis of the Ludwig examples confirm this role.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "intentional harm" is a correct and usable term that clearly denotes harm caused deliberately. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a noun phrase and serves to distinguish deliberate actions from accidental ones. While not extremely common, it appears across diverse contexts such as news, science, and legal domains. When writing, ensure its use is reserved for situations with evident deliberate intent to avoid misinterpretations. Alternative phrases include "deliberate injury" and "malicious damage". Therefore, the phrase "intentional harm" is useful when you need to clearly indicate the presence of a deliberate choice to cause harm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberate injury

Emphasizes the deliberateness of the act causing injury.

malicious damage

Highlights the malicious intent behind the damage.

purposeful injury

Focuses on the intended nature of the injury.

willful damage

Indicates a deliberate and stubborn intent to cause damage.

premeditated harm

Stresses the planning and forethought involved in causing harm.

calculated injury

Suggests a careful and planned approach to inflicting injury.

targeted violence

Focuses on the selection of a specific target for violence.

infliction of harm

Highlights the act of causing harm.

wrongful injury

Emphasizes the injustice of the injury.

aggressive harm

Highlights the aggressive nature of causing harm.

FAQs

How can I use "intentional harm" in a sentence?

Use "intentional harm" to describe situations where damage or injury is caused deliberately. For instance, "The evidence suggested that the defendant caused "intentional harm" to the victim."

What are some synonyms for "intentional harm"?

Alternatives include "deliberate injury", "malicious damage", or "purposeful injury", depending on the context.

What is the difference between "intentional harm" and "negligence"?

"Intentional harm" involves a deliberate act to cause injury or damage, while negligence refers to a failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in unintentional harm. The key difference lies in the "intent" behind the action.

Is "intentional harm" a legal term?

Yes, "intentional harm" is a concept often used in legal contexts to differentiate between accidental injuries and those caused by deliberate actions. It can influence the severity of charges and penalties.