maliciously intended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maliciously intended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or statement that is meant to cause harm or ill will. Example: "The email contained maliciously intended remarks that aimed to damage her reputation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Gen. James E. Rainey, the commandant of the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, disputed that any Ranger instructor maliciously intended to hold female students back.

The Washington Post

CEN and Leidig allege that BuzzFeed maliciously intended to damage the news agency in order to "obtain a greater share of the market for viral news in Great Britain and elsewhere around the world".

The Guardian

They're akin to hate speech and are maliciously intended to intimidate and silence.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., said in a statement that identity thieves like Mr. Golb "maliciously intend to damage their victims' reputations and harass them".

The New York Times

Clearly Moscow maliciously intends to stir the pot at the expense of the U.S. and the West in the volatile Mideast and the Persian Gulf.

Forbes

A culture that is demeaning to women can exist without anyone maliciously intending to demean women.

Huffington Post

If his ill-judged, offensive comments at the start of that summer (never intended maliciously but with an appalling lack of sensitivity in his choice of words: he just didn't engage brain first) sparked the fire in the West Indies team, endearingly he could make a virtue even out of that vice.

The Guardian - Sport

In a statement online the Kent Union said: "Equality, diversity and inclusivity remain a key aspect of the work and values of Kent Union". The Liberty Union previously said the "jokes" had been "taken out of context", and while they were "offensive and distasteful", they were "not intended maliciously" and did not represent the views of the society.

BBC

Mr Lee says only a small portion of crossover votes are typically cast maliciously (meaning they are intended to harm the other party), but he predicts that at least twice as many votes will be cast for Democratic candidates today as Republican ones.

The Economist

People are also rarely maliciously mean.

WikiHow

The issue here is whether the comparison is intended to depict a reality one wants to alter peacefully, or part of an arsenal of slanderous weapons used maliciously by people who largely have bigoted themselves.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maliciously intended", ensure the context clearly demonstrates a deliberate intention to cause harm or damage. This phrase carries a strong connotation of ill will and should be used when that meaning is accurate and supported by evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "maliciously intended" when the action in question could be attributed to negligence, ignorance, or accident. Overusing the phrase can weaken its impact and create a perception of bias.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maliciously intended" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a past participle. The adverb "maliciously" modifies the verb "intended", indicating the manner in which the action was intended, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maliciously intended" is a grammatically correct phrase that describes actions or statements designed to cause harm. According to Ludwig, this phrase functions as an adverbial modifier highlighting the harmful intent behind an action. While not overly common, it maintains a neutral to slightly formal tone and is primarily found in News & Media contexts. When employing this phrase, clarity and accuracy are crucial to avoid misrepresenting intent. Remember that it implies a deliberate desire to cause harm, which can have legal ramifications. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is appropriate for use in written English. Alternatives such as "deliberately harmful" or "intentionally destructive" may be considered to offer slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberately harmful

Focuses on the conscious decision to cause harm, changing the adverb.

purposely damaging

Highlights the aim to damage, altering both the adverb and the verb.

intentionally destructive

Emphasizes the destructive nature of the intention, swapping "maliciously" with "intentionally" and replacing "intended".

designed to harm

Shifts the focus to the design or plan behind the harmful action.

malevolently designed

Uses a more formal tone to express evil intent in the design.

meant to cause suffering

Specifies the intended outcome as causing suffering, providing a more descriptive alternative.

wickedly devised

Emphasizes the immoral nature of the plan, using a stronger, more evocative adjective.

vindictively planned

Highlights the vengeful aspect of the planning, altering both the adverb and verb.

calculated to injure

Focuses on the calculated nature of the intent to cause injury.

schemed to inflict pain

Highlights the element of scheming and the intent to inflict pain.

FAQs

How can I use "maliciously intended" in a sentence?

You can use "maliciously intended" to describe actions, statements, or plans that are designed to cause harm or ill will. For example, "The "maliciously intended rumors" were spread to damage his reputation."

What are some alternatives to "maliciously intended"?

Some alternatives include "deliberately harmful", "purposely damaging", or "intentionally destructive". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "maliciously intended" formal or informal?

"Maliciously intended" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "malevolently designed" exist.

What is the difference between "maliciously intended" and "unintentionally harmful"?

"Maliciously intended" implies a deliberate desire to cause harm, while "unintentionally harmful" suggests that the harm was an unforeseen or accidental consequence. The key difference is the presence or absence of malicious intent.