largest harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "largest harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the most significant negative impact or damage caused by an action or event. Example: "The largest harm caused by the pollution was the destruction of local wildlife habitats."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"The largest harm Kazan did was to himself," Richard Schickel points out in "Elia Kazan: A Biography". Kazan chose his art over his ideology.

The New Yorker

Probabilistic attack: The optimal attack probability is derived to cause the largest harm to FC's detection performance.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Specifically, we analyze three general and actual scenarios in sequence: (i) Probabilistic attack: The optimal attack probability is derived to cause the largest harm to FC's detection performance.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The story also threatened larger harm.

The New York Times

Colter says that drug test kits are part a larger harm reduction strategy.

Vice

Martiquet, who has worked as an emergency medic, said he thinks that sober partying has a place in the larger harm reduction movement.

Vice

3 12 14 One exception considered mortality but not morbidity in a low risk environment for cycling (the Netherlands) and found smaller absolute effects at younger ages but consistent and large harm benefit ratios (compared with car driving) across all age groups modelled.

British Medical Journal

Second, although the Chinese government has launched multiple large harm reduction programs, e.g., methadone maintenance treatment [ 33], these programs target persons who inject drugs, and programs for MSM are limited [ 1].

BMC Infectious Diseases

This is because they are the group that buys the greatest share of the cheaply priced alcohol, faces greater price increases than for example moderate drinkers if a 45p minimum unit price were implemented, and buys in larger volumes thus incurring larger absolute reductions in consumption leading to larger harm reductions.

British Medical Journal

A basic test of government is its ability to prevent large-scale harm to its citizens' health and survival.

The New Yorker

But the decision recognizes the larger practical harm to the public interest of treating temporary government freezes on development as seizures of private property requiring compensation, as if they were the same as a permanent physical taking.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "largest harm", ensure the context clearly establishes the scale and scope of the damage being discussed. Quantify or provide specific examples to support the assertion of magnitude.

Common error

Avoid using "largest harm" when the actual impact is relatively minor or unproven. Using strong language without sufficient evidence can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largest harm" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "largest" modifies the noun "harm". It is used to denote the most significant or extensive damage, injury, or negative impact.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "largest harm" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe the most significant or extensive damage. While relatively rare in occurrence, as shown by Ludwig, it finds its use in contexts such as science and news media, aiming to emphasize the magnitude and severity of a negative impact. Despite the "aiResponseStatus" confirming its correctness, it's crucial to ensure that the context justifies the strong assertion of scale when employing this phrase. Related phrases like "greatest harm" or "most significant damage" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas, with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greatest harm

Emphasizes the superlative degree of damage or injury.

most significant damage

Highlights the importance and impact of the damage caused.

biggest detriment

Focuses on the disadvantage or loss resulting from the harm.

gravest injury

Emphasizes the severe and serious nature of the harm.

most extensive impairment

Highlights the widespread and comprehensive nature of the harm.

severe adverse effect

Focuses on the negative and harmful consequences.

major negative impact

Highlights the significant and adverse influence.

most substantial loss

Focuses on the considerable deprivation or forfeiture.

utmost damage

Emphasizes the extreme degree of destruction or injury.

most devastating consequence

Highlights the ruinous and destructive outcome.

FAQs

What is an alternative to using the phrase "largest harm"?

You can use alternatives such as "greatest harm", "most significant damage", or "biggest detriment" depending on the context.

How do I use "largest harm" in a sentence?

Use "largest harm" when describing the most substantial negative impact resulting from a specific event or action. For example, "The study identified the pollution as the source of the largest harm to the local ecosystem."

Which is more appropriate: "largest harm" or "greatest harm"?

Both "largest harm" and "greatest harm" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Largest" emphasizes scale, while "greatest" emphasizes severity.

Is "major harm" a suitable substitute for "largest harm"?

While "major harm" is similar, "largest harm" implies a greater degree of impact or damage. Use "major harm" when the harm is substantial but not necessarily the most significant.