malign purposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "malign purposes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe intentions or goals that are harmful, evil, or malevolent. Example: "The organization was found to be operating with malign purposes, seeking to undermine the community's trust."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Bots, like any other scientific innovation, can be used for benign or malign purposes.

The Guardian - Opinion

But he was also aware of how the knowledge of genetics could be used for malign purposes.

The New York Times - Science

This involves a vast deception by which a false world is created to deceive an innocent person - for malign purposes in 36 Hours and Underground, for beneficent ones here.

The Guardian - Film

So I am very disappointed that he joins in the scare stories about "malign purposes" of alleged Trotskyite and Tory participants in the leadership election ("Labour needs a prime minister, not a debate. It needs Burnham", Comment).

The Guardian

That is the nub of the case for change.One possible course of action would be to amend the oil-for-food scheme, making it easier for Iraq to import innocuous items needed to repair its infrastructure and oil industry, while trying to keep out the really dangerous imports and monitoring the items that may be used for benign or malign purposes.

The Economist

Google's proprietary search algorithm, surely the most valuable mathematical formula in the world, is under constant siege from the parasitic activity known as Search Engine Optimization (87 million results) which seeks to raise the standing of a particular site in Google's queue for both beneficial and malign purposes.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

He also spoke out against the Sun newspaper attempting to "destroy his character" by attributing to him "malign purpose".

The Guardian - Books

Beyond espionage, any public figure who combines grandiose ambition, perceived malign purpose and memorable idiosyncrasy will eventually be likened to a "Bond villain".

The Guardian - Books

"But the way the press acts is that they try to doubt people's motives and try to suggest we have a malign purpose, and they try to destroy people's character.

The Guardian - Books

Possibly cementing North Korea's divergent interpretation is the fact that in 1950, Pyongyang itself used exercises for the malign purpose it now sees in Foal Eagle.

BBC

Despite everything, despite every malign purpose to which the Internet is being put, I consider it a wonder of our age.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing motivations, clarify the specific actions or outcomes that demonstrate the "malign purposes". This provides concrete evidence to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid using "malign purposes" in informal or casual settings. Its formal and serious tone can sound overly dramatic or out of place. Opt for simpler alternatives like "bad intentions" or "harmful aims" in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "malign purposes" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "malign" modifies the noun "purposes". It describes the nature or quality of the purposes, indicating that they are harmful or evil. This usage is supported by Ludwig, which confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "malign purposes" is used to describe intentions or goals that are harmful, evil, or malevolent. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and is most commonly found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. While the phrase itself is valid, it is important to note that it can be seen as melodramatic in casual speech, as simpler expressions exist. Related phrases include "evil intentions" and "harmful intentions". When you are using this phrase, clarifying the harmful actions or outcomes provides support to the claim.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evil intentions

Replaces 'malign' with 'evil', emphasizing the moral reprehensibility of the intentions.

harmful intentions

Substitutes 'malign' with 'harmful', focusing on the potential for damage or injury.

malevolent motives

Replaces both words with synonyms emphasizing the ill will and spite behind the actions.

nefarious aims

Uses synonyms that suggest wickedness and illegality in the objectives.

sinister objectives

Employs 'sinister' to highlight the threatening and ominous nature of the goals.

wicked designs

Replaces with words suggesting immorality and a cunning plan.

destructive goals

Focuses on the potential to cause ruin and devastation.

corrupt intentions

Highlights the moral decay and dishonesty behind the purposes.

Machiavellian schemes

Implies cunning, duplicity, and a ruthless pursuit of power.

underhanded tactics

Shifts focus to the methods used, emphasizing their deceitful and unfair nature.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "malign purposes"?

Alternatives to "malign purposes" include "evil intentions", "harmful intentions", and "malevolent motives", each emphasizing different aspects of harmful intent.

How can I use "malign purposes" in a sentence?

You can use "malign purposes" to describe the intentions behind harmful actions. For example: "The investigation revealed that the company was operating with "malign purposes", deliberately misleading investors."

Is it appropriate to use "malign purposes" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "malign purposes" carries a formal and serious tone that may be out of place in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "bad intentions" or "harmful aims" in informal settings.

What distinguishes "malign purposes" from "negative consequences"?

"Malign purposes" refers to the intent behind an action, implying a deliberate desire to cause harm. "Negative consequences", on the other hand, describes the outcomes of an action, regardless of the original intent. An action with good intentions can still have "negative consequences", but "malign purposes" always implies harmful intent.