pernicious purposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pernicious purposes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe intentions or goals that are harmful or destructive in nature. Example: "The organization was found to be operating under pernicious purposes, aiming to undermine public trust and safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Indeed, district officials, local vector control staff and other community leaders would often emphasise this point, stating that whereas at other locations people are always telling stories about how certain kinds of drugs are introduced for allegedly pernicious purposes (such as to secretly control the population), this is rarely the case in Moyo and Adjumani districts.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Simple carbohydrates appear to play a much more pernicious role.

The New York Times - Health

First, state-level politics can play a pernicious role.

The Economist

Supporting Rush are those concerned that rights-of-publicity statutes have become pernicious, growing far beyond their intended purpose.

The New York Times - Sports

The direct causes of disease, he argued, were those that "accumulate noxious matters within the system, by impairing the action of the excretory or depurating organs whose office it is to maintain the blood in a state of purity, by removing out of the system substances which having served their purpose have become useless and pernicious".

Bulletin of the History of Medicine

The proliferation of cross-purposes and strange bedfellows makes for pernicious and complicated arbitrating.

The New Yorker

Since few people know about the pernicious consequences of injection abuse, it is very common that patients demand injection treatments for the purpose of quick recovery from sickness.

BMC Health Services Research

"Pernicious quicksand!

The New Yorker

Domestic abuse is pernicious.

The Guardian - Opinion

That inertia is pernicious.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It became pernicious".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when using this phrase. While accurate, simpler terms like "harmful intentions" are often preferred in broad communications.

Common error

Avoid using "pernicious purposes" in casual conversation or informal writing. Its formality can sound unnatural or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pernicious purposes" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "pernicious" modifies the noun "purposes". It serves to describe the nature or quality of the purposes in question, indicating that they are harmful or destructive. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pernicious purposes" is a phrase used to describe intentions or goals that are harmful or destructive. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for written English. Its usage is relatively rare and tends to appear in formal or scientific contexts. Alternative phrases such as "harmful intentions" or "malicious aims" may be used depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis. When writing, avoid overuse in informal contexts to maintain a natural tone. The phrase is appropriate when you aim to express strong disapproval of harmful intentions, especially in serious discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malevolent purposes

Synonymous with "pernicious purposes", using a slightly stronger term.

harmful intentions

Replaces "pernicious" with a more common synonym, simplifying the phrase.

detrimental aims

Substitutes both words with synonyms, maintaining a formal tone.

destructive goals

Emphasizes the damaging outcome of the intentions.

malicious objectives

Highlights the evil or spiteful nature of the intentions.

wicked intentions

Emphasizes the immorality and evil of the intentions.

injurious designs

Uses more formal and less common vocabulary.

damaging ambitions

Focuses on the long-term aspirations that are harmful.

corrupt motives

Implies underlying dishonesty or immorality.

insidious schemes

Highlights the subtle and treacherous nature of the plans.

FAQs

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

"Pernicious purposes" describes intentions or goals that are harmful or destructive. For example: "The organization was operating under "pernicious purposes", aiming to undermine public trust."

What are some alternatives to "pernicious purposes"?

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

When is it appropriate to use "pernicious purposes" over simpler alternatives?

Use "pernicious purposes" when you want to convey a strong sense of harm, evil, or destructiveness, especially in formal or serious contexts. Simpler alternatives may be more appropriate for general communication.

What is the difference between "pernicious purposes" and "malevolent purposes"?

While both phrases describe harmful intentions, "pernicious purposes" emphasizes the damaging and subtly destructive nature, while "malevolent purposes" highlights the evil and ill-willed aspect.