lack of goodwill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lack of goodwill" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is an absence of friendly or cooperative feelings, often in a business or interpersonal context. Example: "The negotiations fell apart due to a lack of goodwill between the two parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Finally, it accused the BBC of "lack of goodwill" towards Rwanda over the broadcasting agreement.

The Guardian

Eisenhower's popularity because of his wartime experience or Truman's lack of goodwill because of the Korean war.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lack of goodwill, lack of support, a failure by the high-ups to match fine deeds to words.

The Guardian

There is certainly no shortage of one thing in the world, and that's a lack of goodwill to all men.

The Guardian - Opinion

The early exchanges were feisty, with a transparent lack of goodwill after the move of the prop Soane Tonga'uiha from Northampton to Saracens was aborted this month.

The Guardian - Sport

On the challenge to turn good intentions into good outcomes: I am confident of this: amidst all the mistakes, disappointment and uncertain starts, the one failure that has mostly been avoided is lack of goodwill.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In our working-class, Buddhist community, saving was perceived as stinginess or lack of saddha, goodwill.

The New York Times

It's rather a complete lack of interest, or faith, or goodwill.

The Guardian - Opinion

Paterson's honesty and lack of ego earned him immediate goodwill as both the state's first black and legally blind governor.

Forbes

This was partially because they eschewed several record contracts from the major labels due to a lack of trust in their corporate goodwill.

Wikipedia

The IMF's Traa acknowledged that the IMF/EU bailout program lacked public support and said there was plenty of goodwill to give Greece more time for its adjustment program in a weaker than expected economy.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "lack of goodwill", consider the context and whether a more specific term, such as "hostility" or "distrust", might be more accurate.

Common error

Avoid attributing a "lack of goodwill" as the sole cause of a negative outcome without considering other contributing factors like miscommunication or resource constraints.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lack of goodwill" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies the absence of positive intent or cooperative spirit, as demonstrated in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lack of goodwill" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe the absence of positive intent or cooperative spirit. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. While not exceptionally common, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, and can be replaced by alternatives like "absence of goodwill" depending on the desired nuance. When using this phrase, be mindful of the potential for oversimplification; the "lack of goodwill" may not always be the primary cause of negative outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absence of goodwill

Replaces "lack" with "absence", maintaining a formal tone and similar meaning.

deficiency of goodwill

Substitutes "lack" with "deficiency", suggesting an inadequate amount of positive intention.

want of goodwill

Uses the archaic term "want" to denote absence, adding a slightly old-fashioned feel.

shortage of goodwill

Replaces "lack" with "shortage", implying a limited supply of positive intention.

paucity of goodwill

Uses "paucity" to indicate scarcity, adding a more sophisticated vocabulary.

ill will

Shortens the phrase to simply express negative intention or hostility.

absence of amity

Replaces "goodwill" with "amity", focusing on a lack of friendly relations.

lack of cooperation

Shifts the focus to the absence of collaborative effort.

unfriendliness

Uses a single word to convey the absence of positive feelings.

bad faith

Highlights the absence of honesty and sincerity.

FAQs

How can I use "lack of goodwill" in a sentence?

You can use "lack of goodwill" to describe situations where there is an absence of friendly or cooperative feelings. For example: "The negotiations failed due to a "lack of goodwill" between the parties."

What are some alternatives to "lack of goodwill"?

Alternatives include "absence of goodwill", "ill will", or "absence of amity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "lack of goodwill" or "absence of goodwill"?

Both "lack of goodwill" and "absence of goodwill" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, with "absence of goodwill" sounding slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "lack of goodwill" and "bad faith"?

"Lack of goodwill" generally refers to an absence of positive intentions or cooperative spirit, while "bad faith" implies active deception or dishonesty. Bad faith suggests a deliberate intent to undermine or deceive, going beyond simply a "lack of goodwill".