seek to harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'seek to harm' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that a person or group has the intention of causing harm to another person or group. For example, "The group sought to harm their political opponents by spreading lies about them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hillel does not sponsor speakers who it says seek to harm Israel.

Princeton University

We as a nation need to charge and then try the accused who allegedly seek to harm us.

The Guardian - Opinion

When it comes to stopping terrorist attacks, groups that seek to harm the West also now have an advanced understanding about our capacity to stop them.

Independent

Although not usually terrifying to her students (unless they misbehave), Susan certainly strikes fear into the heart of any monsters that might seek to harm them.

The Guardian

He will soon be called to defend his record of genocide denial that insults the people of Rwanda and inflames those who seek to harm us".

The Guardian

Old scores are settled, and there's a not-so-subtle parallel drawn between 1970s-era anticapitalist radicals who seek to harm a factory owner and today's Islamic radicals.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The unsealing of the indictment exemplifies this office's commitment to the relentless pursuit and prosecution of those who seek to harm Americans," he said.

The New York Times

London is the greatest city in the world and we stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life.

The Guardian

Rumors have been rife — and unverified — that Mr. Wang presented American officials with evidence of official corruption, and that he dispatched more evidence outside China for release in the event that someone should seek to harm him.

The New York Times

Mr. Fang, the president of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, has hailed Internet censorship as a necessary defense against Western governments and "democracy activists" who seek to harm China through incendiary information.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Nobody disputes that the Islamic State seeks to harm Americans.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seek to harm" when you want to emphasize a deliberate intention to cause damage, injury, or negative consequences.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "seek to harm" can sound overly formal or dramatic in everyday conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "try to hurt" or "want to damage" for more casual situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seek to harm" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically used after a verb to express the purpose or intention behind an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates an aim to cause damage or injury.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

11%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seek to harm" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that emphasizes a deliberate intention to cause damage or injury. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to highlight the purpose behind an action, painting a picture of malicious intent. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Wiki contexts, this phrase conveys a neutral tone suitable for formal statements and reports. While alternatives like "intend to injure" or "try to hurt" exist, "seek to harm" carries a stronger emphasis on purposeful pursuit. Remembering to consider the formality of your situation, you can use "seek to harm" to create writing that clearly communicates the intent behind harmful actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have intentions to harm

More explicitly states the existence of harmful intentions.

mean to cause damage

Highlights the intent to create negative consequences.

intend to injure

Focuses specifically on physical harm or damage.

set out to injure

Emphasizes the deliberate and purposeful nature of the harmful act.

attempt to injure

Focuses on the action of trying to cause physical harm.

aim to damage

Emphasizes the goal of causing damage.

plan to damage

Highlights the premeditated aspect of causing harm.

try to hurt

A more general and less formal way to express the intent to cause harm.

desire to injure

Emphasizes the internal motivation or wish to cause harm.

aspire to hurt

Implies a long-term goal or ambition to cause harm.

FAQs

How can I use "seek to harm" in a sentence?

You can use "seek to harm" to describe someone's intention to cause damage or injury. For example, "The vandals "sought to harm" the monument with graffiti."

What are some alternatives to "seek to harm"?

Alternatives include "intend to injure", "aim to damage", or "try to hurt", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "seeking to harm" instead of "seek to harm"?

Both "seek to harm" and "seeking to harm" can be correct, but they have different grammatical functions. "Seek to harm" is often used as an infinitive phrase after a verb, while "seeking to harm" can function as a gerund or part of a continuous verb tense. For example: "They seek to harm others" versus "They are seeking to harm others".

What's the difference between "seek to harm" and "try to harm"?

"Seek to harm" suggests a more deliberate and intentional effort to cause harm, while "try to harm" implies an attempt that may or may not be successful. "Seek" implies a dedicated pursuit, while "try" suggests an experiment or effort of uncertain outcome.