negative intentions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "negative intentions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe harmful or malicious motives behind someone's actions or words. Example: "Her negative intentions were evident when she spread rumors about her colleague."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"Cardinal Kasper had no negative intentions or lowered appreciation towards the United Kingdom," he said.

Independent

That sounds like proof positive of Fox's negative intentions.

Forbes

When team members start to attribute negative intentions and motives to their colleagues, it becomes very difficult to put ego aside and focus on finding the right answer.

TechCrunch

Carrying such negative intentions weighs us down.

Huffington Post

Leaving them out indicates negative intentions, while including them simply shows an expected level of enthusiasm".

Huffington Post

In the adoption stage, the professional develops positive or negative intentions about using the innovation.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The Vatican, which said the decision not to bring Kasper had been taken "for health reasons", was swift to issue a statement on Wednesday, explaining that the cardinal "had no negative intention" and that he "recognised the great values of British culture".

The Guardian

In bad-mouthing attack, a misbehaving node propagates dishonest and unfair recommendations against an innocent node with a negative intention to confuse the trust model.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The referent group for all logistic regression models was consistent negative intention.

BMC Public Health

Participants with a discontinued screening intention had fewer role responsibilities than participants with a consistent negative intention.

BMC Public Health

At the adoption stage, the professional will develop a positive or negative intention to use the innovation.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing someone's motivations, use "negative intentions" to clearly convey that their goals are harmful or malicious. This phrase is useful in formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid assuming someone has "negative intentions" without concrete evidence. Jumping to conclusions can damage relationships and create unnecessary conflict. Base your judgment on actions and demonstrable outcomes, not speculation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "negative intentions" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective 'negative' modifies the noun 'intentions'. It describes the nature or quality of the intentions, indicating they are harmful or malicious. As noted by Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

60%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "negative intentions" is a grammatically correct and semantically clear way to express that someone's motives are harmful or malicious. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is valid and appropriate for use in written English. While not extremely common, the phrase appears in a mix of news, scientific, and general contexts. When writing, it is important to accurately attribute intentions based on evidence, as misinterpreting someone's motives can lead to conflict. Consider alternatives like "malicious motives" or "harmful purposes" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious motives

Focuses specifically on the evil or harmful intent behind actions.

harmful purposes

Emphasizes the damaging or injurious aims driving the action.

ill will

Highlights the feeling of animosity or hatred that motivates the actions.

ulterior motives

Suggests hidden, often self-serving, reasons behind actions.

evil designs

Implies a planned and malevolent scheme.

sinister plans

Emphasizes the threatening or ominous nature of the scheme.

dark purposes

Highlights the immoral or wicked aims.

nefarious schemes

Focuses on the wickedness and illegality of the plans.

hostile aims

Highlights the antagonistic and aggressive nature of the goals.

destructive goals

Emphasizes the damaging impact of the intended outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "negative intentions" in a sentence?

You can use "negative intentions" to describe someone's motivations, such as: "His "negative intentions" were clear when he sabotaged the project."

What are some alternatives to "negative intentions"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "malicious motives", "harmful purposes", or "ulterior motives".

Is it correct to say someone has "negative intentions"?

Yes, the phrase "negative intentions" is grammatically sound and commonly used to describe harmful or malicious motives.

What's the difference between "negative intentions" and "bad intentions"?

"Bad intentions" is a more general term, while "negative intentions" specifically implies that the intentions are harmful or destructive. They are largely interchangeable, but "negative intentions" carries a slightly stronger connotation.