nefarious acts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nefarious acts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions that are wicked, villainous, or morally wrong. Example: "The investigation revealed a series of nefarious acts committed by the organization, leading to public outrage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Instead, Watergate became a stand-in for scandal, its last syllable endlessly tagged to nefarious acts.

The New York Times - Style

"Such nefarious acts cannot deter the people and the government in their fight against the scourge of militancy," he said in a statement.

The New York Times

In February, Anonymous hacked into the computer system of the private security firm HB Gary Federal and then posted thousands of emails containing incriminating and nefarious acts.

The Guardian - Opinion

His death in 1978 received lurid coverage in the West, offered as further proof of the nefarious acts of Soviet bloc secret services.

The New York Times

"To permit corporations to conceal the nefarious acts of their underlings by using the shield of corporate armor to deflect corporate responsibility," the court ruled, would permit them "to inflict widespread public harm without hope of redress".

The New York Times

Now, night-time is the right time to be with the one you love, but it is also the right time for nefarious acts of mischief: from flyposting to graffiti, this is the defacing hour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

He told me that "complicity" means a shared involvement in a crime or a sin or a nefarious act.

The New Yorker

To be discovered to be a hypocrite, a person needs to have been both caught in some nefarious act and, at the same time, heard morally denouncing the act in question.

The New York Times

(When the potion he has devised unleashes the devil within, Mr. Hyde's first nefarious act is to undo his tidy ponytail and begin flinging his dark locks around as if they were deadly weapons).

The New York Times

On one hand it's supposed to be a variation on one of those old-fashioned detective stories, complete with a lost fortune, a mysterious manuscript, a spooky old mansion and a nefarious act of poisoning.

The New York Times - Books

Well, now someone is finally doing something about this nefarious act.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about formal or serious topics, use "nefarious acts" to add emphasis to the morally wrong or evil nature of the actions. For example, you might use it when discussing political corruption or criminal conspiracies.

Common error

Avoid using "nefarious acts" in casual or informal writing. The phrase is quite formal and can sound out of place if used inappropriately. Consider simpler alternatives like "bad actions" or "wrongdoings".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nefarious acts" functions primarily as a noun phrase that describes a specific type of action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is used to denote actions characterized by wickedness or villainy. The examples provided showcase its use in describing criminal, political, and even historical wrongdoings.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nefarious acts" is a phrase used to describe particularly wicked or villainous actions. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and often appears in News & Media, Wiki and Science contexts. While "nefarious acts" can effectively convey the immoral and often illegal nature of certain actions, it's important to be mindful of its formality. Overusing it in casual settings might sound unnatural. Alternatives like "evil deeds" or "wicked actions" may be more appropriate depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evil deeds

Replaces "acts" with "deeds" and "nefarious" with "evil", slightly simplifying the tone.

wicked actions

Substitutes "nefarious" with "wicked" and "acts" with "actions", offering a more common alternative.

villainous deeds

Replaces "nefarious" with "villainous", emphasizing the deliberate malice behind the actions, and "acts" with "deeds".

despicable deeds

Uses "despicable" to amplify the reprehensible nature of the deeds, maintaining a similar level of condemnation as "nefarious".

criminal activities

Focuses on the illegal nature of the actions, replacing "nefarious" with "criminal" and "acts" with "activities".

atrocious misdeeds

Replaces "nefarious" and "acts" with words that intensify the sense of outrage and wrongdoing.

unscrupulous actions

Highlights the lack of moral principles behind the actions, replacing "nefarious" with "unscrupulous".

corrupt practices

Emphasizes the decay of moral values implied in the actions, replacing "nefarious acts" with "corrupt practices".

immoral conduct

Shifts the focus to the ethical dimension of the actions, generalizing from specific acts to overall behavior.

heinous crimes

Replaces both words to emphasize the severity and wickedness of the actions, specifically focusing on criminal behavior.

FAQs

What does "nefarious acts" mean?

The phrase "nefarious acts" refers to actions that are extremely wicked, villainous, or morally reprehensible. It suggests a high degree of evil intent and harmful consequences.

How can I use "nefarious acts" in a sentence?

You can use "nefarious acts" to describe the actions of a person or group that are intended to cause harm or are morally wrong. For example: "The investigation uncovered a series of "criminal activities" and nefarious acts committed by the organization."

What are some synonyms for "nefarious acts"?

Alternatives to "nefarious acts" include "evil deeds", "wicked actions", "villainous deeds", and "unscrupulous actions".

Is "nefarious acts" formal or informal?

"Nefarious acts" is a relatively formal phrase. It is best suited for serious or academic writing and may sound out of place in casual conversation.