sinister purposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sinister purposes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe intentions or goals that are evil, harmful, or morally wrong. Example: "The organization was suspected of operating under sinister purposes, aiming to undermine the stability of the government."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"It's part of a much bigger picture of social networking sites on the Internet harvesting private data, whether for marketing or for more sinister purposes," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

According to a swirl of rumour filtering out of Libya, the thousands of miles of underground tunnelling and storage dumps are more elaborate than would be needed simply to carry water, and might be intended for more sinister purposes.

The Economist

It starred John Cassavetes as a shadowy figure who hopes to use the psychic gifts of two high schoolers (Irving and Andrew Stevens) for his own sinister purposes; Kirk Douglas appeared as the father of one of the teenagers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The survivors, it is maintained, are the real lords of the universe today: far more powerful than mere nation states.Like Mr Galbraith's oligarchs, these corporate barons plan the world economy for their own sinister purposes.

The Economist

There can be little doubt that his friendliness, boyish looks and unerring punctuality with the delivery of rent checks (obviously acquired in some cunning and bloody way) are designed to put us at ease and conceal his sinister purposes.

The New York Times

Its elements include an ocean voyage, a shipwreck, a cargo of something called stardust, a blissful Edwardian chorus line of singing mermaids and three orphans (sold to a dastardly seaman for sinister purposes) who have never seen the light of day before.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

"We weren't attempting to rescue this apparatus from its sinister purpose," he said.

The New Yorker

Several sources implied that this caretaking had a sinister purpose: the K.L.A. was harvesting the prisoners' organs and selling them on the black market.

The New Yorker

While saying "it pains me greatly" to vote no, Ms. Lofgren said the Republican proposal had "another, in my opinion, more sinister purpose — to actually reduce legal immigration levels".

The New York Times

"The wave of enthusiasm for a solution that would preserve LICH may have blinded many to a more sinister purpose to seize its assets and dismantle the hospital".

The New York Times

If A Kiss Before Dying highlighted Levin's ability to put construction skills to a sinister purpose, this play showed a relish of farce.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions motivated by hidden agendas or malevolence, use "sinister purposes" to clearly convey the intent behind the actions. This phrase effectively communicates a sense of foreboding and moral corruption.

Common error

Avoid using "sinister purposes" when describing actions you simply disagree with. This phrase is reserved for situations involving genuine evil or harmful intent, not mere differences in opinion. Misusing it can dilute its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sinister purposes" functions primarily as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. It typically acts as the object of a preposition or verb, describing the intent or goal behind an action. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sinister purposes" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe actions driven by evil, harmful, or morally wrong intentions. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a standard and usable term. While the phrase is common across various contexts, it is particularly prevalent in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure that the context genuinely warrants the strong negative connotation associated with it, reserving it for situations involving malicious or harmful intent rather than simple disagreement. Alternatives to "sinister purposes" include "malevolent intentions", "nefarious goals", and "evil aims", each with slight nuances in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malevolent intentions

Replaces 'purposes' with 'intentions' and 'sinister' with 'malevolent', both implying ill will but with different connotations.

nefarious goals

Substitutes 'purposes' with 'goals' and 'sinister' with 'nefarious', suggesting wickedness and immorality.

evil aims

Replaces 'purposes' with 'aims' and 'sinister' with 'evil', providing a more direct and blunt expression of wrongdoing.

wicked objectives

Changes 'purposes' to 'objectives' and 'sinister' to 'wicked', conveying moral corruption.

malicious intent

Uses 'intent' instead of 'purposes' and 'malicious' in place of 'sinister', highlighting a desire to cause harm.

dark designs

Replaces 'purposes' with 'designs' and 'sinister' with 'dark', creating a more figurative and mysterious expression.

devious schemes

Substitutes 'purposes' with 'schemes' and 'sinister' with 'devious', indicating cunning and trickery.

ulterior motives

Changes 'purposes' to 'motives' and 'sinister' to 'ulterior', suggesting hidden and often questionable reasons.

covert agendas

Replaces 'purposes' with 'agendas' and 'sinister' with 'covert', emphasizing secrecy and concealment.

underhanded intentions

Uses 'intentions' instead of 'purposes' and 'underhanded' in place of 'sinister', stressing dishonesty and unfairness.

FAQs

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

You can use "sinister purposes" to describe actions driven by malicious intent. For example, "The villain used the technology for "sinister purposes", aiming to control the world".

What are some alternatives to "sinister purposes"?

Some alternatives include "malevolent intentions", "nefarious goals", or "evil aims", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "sinister purposes" in formal writing?

Yes, "sinister purposes" is appropriate for formal writing when accurately describing malicious or harmful intentions. However, ensure the context warrants such a strong term.

What's the difference between "sinister purposes" and "ulterior motives"?

"Sinister purposes" implies evil or harmful intentions, while "ulterior motives" suggest hidden reasons that may or may not be malicious. "Sinister purposes" carries a stronger negative connotation.