undesirable thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undesirable thoughts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing thoughts that are unwelcome or troubling, often in contexts related to mental health or personal reflection. Example: "Many people experience undesirable thoughts that can lead to anxiety or distress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Psychological projection" -- a psychological defense mechanism whereby one "projects" one's own undesirable thoughts, motivations, desires, feelings, and so on onto someone else.

Huffington Post

As there are many positive aspects to having a bikini body, it can equally come with a lot of costs: undesirable thoughts, feelings and behaviors, especially if the positive attributes become extreme.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The OCD is a type of an anxiety disorder that traps people in the endless cycles of repetitive feelings, unwanted thoughts and unwanted repetitive acts which the sufferer realizes are undesirable but is unable to resist – compulsive rituals [73], [74].

Plosone

Obsession criteria includes constant, tenacious and undesirable impulses, thoughts or images that are disturbing and can trigger misery.

WikiHow

Two scales of the ACS will be used: action orientation subsequent to failure vs. preoccupation (AOF, 12 items, e.g. the ability to detach from thoughts about alternative goals or undesirable events that may interfere with progress on the task at hand).

BMC Psychiatry

At first thought, the word no is an undesirable term.

Huffington Post

The NAO suggests that the management of the process will be crucial: "Our work has identified a number of undesirable results which follow from poor risk management: poorly thought-through plans, unrealistic timetables, weak controls, delays in delivery and wasted money".

The Guardian

Instead of trying to change the form or frequency of thoughts, ACT uses "cognitive defusion" techniques to change the undesirable functions of thoughts.

Huffington Post

This is an unwarranted swipe at a group lacking in power and unthinkingly identified as undesirable at best, to make a point that with some thought could have been made with sensitivity and exactitude.

The New York Times

He saw this undesirable consequence as one of the main challenges to logical thought, i.e., "inference," being a source of knowledge (pramāṇa), for unless one can somehow rule out the problematic substitutions in what I have called the "tempting inference," we would be saddled with having to accept as good a huge number of singularly uninformative reasons.

SEP

And, following on from that thought, is there anything going on in Saudi Arabia that might bring about the social and political reforms needed to make it a less undesirable place from a western point of view?Taking the middle question first should outsiders try to help?—the answer has to be a reluctant yes.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about mental health, consider using "undesirable thoughts" to describe intrusive or unwanted thoughts, providing a more nuanced and less stigmatizing term than "negative thoughts".

Common error

Avoid using "undesirable thoughts" as a blanket term for all negative thinking. The phrase is most accurate when referring to intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause distress, rather than simply negative opinions or feelings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undesirable thoughts" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to thoughts that are unwanted, intrusive, or distressing. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undesirable thoughts" refers to unwanted, intrusive, and often distressing thoughts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI's analysis. While grammatically correct and usable, it's more common in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in discussions related to mental health. The phrase is categorized as a noun phrase, functioning to describe a specific cognitive experience. When using this phrase, it's important to consider more nuanced alternatives like "unwelcome thoughts" or "intrusive thoughts" depending on the specific context, and avoiding overgeneralization. Frequency analysis suggests it appears more often in Science and News & Media contexts, as confirmed by the provided examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unwelcome thoughts

Focuses on the intrusive and uninvited nature of the thoughts.

unpleasant thoughts

Emphasizes the negative emotional impact of the thoughts.

intrusive thoughts

Highlights the unwanted and disruptive quality of the thoughts.

negative thoughts

Broadly describes the thoughts as having a negative valence.

distressing thoughts

Focuses on the thoughts' ability to cause emotional distress.

worrisome thoughts

Highlights the anxiety-provoking nature of the thoughts.

troubling thoughts

Emphasizes the disturbing or unsettling quality of the thoughts.

obsessive thoughts

Highlights the repetitive and persistent nature of the thoughts.

dark thoughts

Emphasizes the sinister or morbid content of the thoughts.

unhealthy thoughts

Focuses on the detrimental impact of the thoughts on mental well-being.

FAQs

How can I use "undesirable thoughts" in a sentence?

You can use "undesirable thoughts" to describe intrusive or unwanted thoughts, such as: "Many people experience "undesirable thoughts" from time to time." You can also say "unwelcome thoughts" or "unpleasant thoughts".

What are some alternatives to "undesirable thoughts"?

Alternatives to "undesirable thoughts" include "unwelcome thoughts", "intrusive thoughts", or "negative thoughts", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Are "undesirable thoughts" the same as "negative thoughts"?

While related, "undesirable thoughts" often refer to intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause distress, whereas "negative thoughts" can encompass a broader range of pessimistic or critical thinking. The key difference is the sense of being unwanted or intrusive.

When is it appropriate to use the term "undesirable thoughts"?

The term "undesirable thoughts" is appropriate when describing thoughts that are unwanted, intrusive, and often distressing. This term is often used in the context of mental health discussions, particularly when addressing conditions like anxiety, OCD, or PTSD.