negative purposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "negative purposes" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used in a variety of contexts to refer to situations, actions, or intentions that have harmful, undesirable, or detrimental effects. Some examples of using "negative purposes" in a sentence are: - The company's decision to cut corners and use low-quality materials was motivated by negative purposes, such as reducing costs and maximizing profits. - The new law aims to crack down on online hate speech and other forms of cyberbullying for negative purposes. - She suspected that her friend had befriended her for negative purposes, as he only seemed to be interested in borrowing money from her. - The government started monitoring citizens' internet activity for negative purposes, such as tracking potential threats to national security. - We should always question our own actions and intentions to ensure that we are not acting out of negative purposes or harmful motives.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But to do something for negative purposes that also has negative consequences – that is immoral," says Teather.

The Guardian

When I asked Cohen whether sites like Wikileaks made the kind of diplomacy he advocates harder, he allowed that they posed a challenge: "All of these tools can be utilized by individuals for everything from Wikileaks to other negative purposes" — at least as the State Department sees it — "but that technology isn't going anywhere.

The New York Times - Magazine

"People in Germany who understand what happens when you have unfettered mass surveillance, where information is then out there being used for negative purposes, understand where that can lead.

TechCrunch

Not 'can this product be abused and utilized for negative purposes' but rather 'what is its primary use case, primary reason for being and can the team sustain that true north over time?'" before choosing whether to invest.

TechCrunch

Social-networking sites can be used for both positive and negative purposes, but in some incredible cases, social media has even been used to save lives.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

For negative control purposes the primary antibody was replaced by non-immune rabbit IgG (Dako).

BMC Veterinary Research

These were treated as negative for purposes of computing validation statistics.

BMC Family Practice

If punishment of them is to be extended to include those committed out side of the strict territorial jurisdiction, it is natural for Congress to say so in the statute, and failure to do so will negative the purpose of Congress in this regard.

Cornell University

Because KAIS did not do HIV-testing on persons ≥65 years old, we assumed that all persons ≥65 years were HIV-negative for purposes of the projection.

BMC Infectious Diseases

In all immunohistochemical procedures, for negative-control purposes, the same techniques were used on tissue sections in which 1% BSA in PBS substituted the primary antibody in each case.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

But did you know that people who are negative on purpose in order to avoid feeling bad when things do go wrong, feel no more buffered and safe when things actually go wrong than those who kept a positive outlook?

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "negative purposes", ensure the context clearly indicates the harm or undesirable outcome associated with the intention. For example, you can specify who or what is affected by these purposes.

Common error

Avoid using "negative purposes" as a generic term for anything undesirable. Specify the particular intention or outcome to provide clarity and impact. Instead of saying "the policy had negative purposes", state "the policy aimed to reduce access to healthcare".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "negative purposes" functions as a noun phrase, specifying the intent or motivation behind an action or decision. Ludwig examples show it describing motivations ranging from cost-cutting to smear campaigns.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "negative purposes" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe harmful or undesirable motivations. While not exceptionally common, it appears across varied domains, including news, science, and academia. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples showcasing its analytical and critical applications.

When using "negative purposes", aim for clarity and precision by specifying the context and the affected parties. Alternatives like "harmful intentions" or "malicious aims" can add nuance. By understanding its linguistic function and usage patterns, writers can effectively leverage "negative purposes" to convey their message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmful intentions

Focuses on the intention behind the harm, rather than the purpose itself.

malicious aims

Emphasizes the malicious or spiteful nature of the objectives.

detrimental goals

Highlights the damaging or harmful outcomes of the objectives.

unethical objectives

Focuses on the moral aspect, suggesting the goals are not morally sound.

destructive motivations

Shifts the focus to the underlying drive that leads to destruction.

adverse designs

Implies a carefully planned negative outcome.

ill-intentioned plans

Stresses the bad intentions behind the planned actions.

unfavorable uses

Highlights the negative or undesirable ways something is being used.

counterproductive endeavors

Indicates efforts that work against the intended positive outcome.

damaging applications

Highlights the harmful or detrimental way something is applied or used.

FAQs

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

You can use "negative purposes" to describe intentions or motivations that lead to harmful or undesirable outcomes. For example, "The company's actions were driven by "negative purposes", such as maximizing short-term profits at the expense of environmental sustainability."

What are some alternatives to saying "negative purposes"?

You can use alternatives like "harmful intentions", "malicious aims", or "detrimental goals" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "negative purposes" and "negative consequences"?

"Negative purposes" refers to the intention or motivation behind an action, while "negative consequences" refers to the results or outcomes of that action. Actions with good intentions can still have "negative consequences", and actions with "negative purposes" are likely to lead to them.

Is it better to use "negative purposes" or a more specific phrase?

In most cases, using a more specific phrase is preferable. Instead of ""negative purposes"", consider using phrases like "to deceive", "to manipulate", or "to exploit" to more accurately convey the intention.