nefarious aims

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nefarious aims" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe intentions or goals that are wicked, villainous, or morally wrong. Example: "The villain's nefarious aims were revealed as he plotted to take over the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The information provides opportunities not only for legitimate business purposes, but also for the nefarious aims of identity thieves and other predators, according to faculty at Wharton and elsewhere.

Forbes

"We gave [our allies] our best analysis of the enormous needs that Iran has internally and the commitment that Iran has made to its people in terms of shoring up its economy and improving economic growth," said President Obama, when asked about concerns that Iran would use the money from sanctions relief for nefarious aims in the region.

BBC

They accuse all kinds of alleged miscreants - warmongers, neoconservatives, Zionists, you name it - of besmirching Iran's good name in pursuit of nefarious aims.

Huffington Post

Tribal kidnappings figure large in the popular image of Yemen, making it easy to paint the country as a dangerous dystopia filled with Salafists harboring nefarious aims.

Vice

Tribal kidnappings figure large in the popular image of Yemen, making it easy to paint the country as a dangerous dystopia filled with Salafists harbouring nefarious aims.

Vice

But things in deep space are not always as they seem, and Enterprise crew members end up stranded on planet Altamid, dependent on each other as they deal with the machinations and depredations of Krall, who, no surprise, will stop at nothing to achieve his nefarious aims.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

But we should give his Koran no more importance than his HP Printer Owner's Manual: both, in Bin Laden's hands, are tools to achieve some nefarious aim.

Independent

Most of the time, this is for a nefarious purpose.

The New York Times

IN most fictions, villains who plot nefarious hoaxes aiming to dupe the masses do so with a clear, sinister objective in mind.

The New York Times - Books

He laments a "robot lobby" – nefarious forces, which aim to take down his government with tweets on social media (his own Twitter profile, I suspect, is run by a communications team, and has 4.16 million followers).

The Guardian - Opinion

Sasha then warns Ratchet that Nefarious' current target is Veldin.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nefarious aims" when you want to convey a sense of cunning, evil, and carefully planned malicious intent, especially in formal writing or when describing complex schemes.

Common error

Avoid using "nefarious aims" in casual or informal settings. Its formal tone can sound overly dramatic or out of place in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nefarious aims" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "nefarious" modifies the noun "aims". It describes the nature or quality of the aims, indicating they are wicked or villainous. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in describing the intentions of villains, identity thieves, and those seeking to undermine governments.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nefarious aims" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English, primarily found in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes intentions or goals that are wicked, villainous, or morally wrong. While not frequently used, it effectively conveys a sense of carefully planned malicious intent. When using this phrase, consider its formal tone and ensure it fits the overall style of your writing. Alternatives like "wicked intentions" or "malicious goals" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wicked intentions

Replaces "nefarious" with "wicked" and "aims" with "intentions", both conveying a sense of evil intent.

malicious goals

Substitutes "nefarious" with "malicious", emphasizing the harmful nature of the objectives.

evil designs

Uses "evil designs" to describe plans that are inherently wicked.

villainous objectives

Directly associates the goals with villainy and wickedness.

sinister purposes

Replaces "aims" with "purposes" and uses "sinister" to highlight the ominous quality of the goals.

malevolent ambitions

Uses "malevolent" to strongly emphasize the ill will and harmful intentions.

corrupt objectives

Emphasizes the moral decay and dishonesty behind the goals.

immoral ambitions

Highlights the lack of ethical principles guiding the aspirations.

unscrupulous motives

Focuses on the lack of ethical constraints in the driving forces behind the actions.

Machiavellian schemes

Implies cunning, duplicity, and amorality in the plans.

FAQs

How to use "nefarious aims" in a sentence?

You can use "nefarious aims" to describe the wicked or evil intentions behind someone's actions. For example, "The villain's "nefarious aims" were to overthrow the government and seize power".

What can I say instead of "nefarious aims"?

You can use alternatives like "wicked intentions", "malicious goals", or "evil designs" depending on the context.

Is "nefarious aims" formal or informal?

"Nefarious aims" is considered a formal phrase, best suited for serious or professional contexts. Using it in casual conversation may sound unnatural or overly dramatic.

What is the difference between "nefarious aims" and "bad intentions"?

"Nefarious aims" implies a higher degree of cunning and malicious planning compared to simply having "bad intentions". "Nefarious aims" suggests a carefully crafted plan for evil, while "bad intentions" can be more general and less elaborate.