undesired thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undesired thoughts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe thoughts that are unwanted or unwelcome, often in contexts related to mental health or cognitive processes. Example: "Many people experience undesired thoughts that can lead to anxiety or distress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

#7: The One Thing You Want to Avoid Just try to quash undesired thoughts -- about urges, exes, hair loss, deadlines, white bears, whatever -- and they're more likely to rebound in your dreams, jack-in the-box-style, found a study at the Goethe University of Frankfurt.

Huffington Post

Rather than diagnosing and treating psychiatric disease, the goal was to be able to help young people with psychological problems to learn strategies to manage undesired thoughts and behaviours associated with anxiety, depression and psychological distress.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And as film critics, have you been forced to view films in similarly "undesired" conditions?

The New York Times

[This behaviour was not entirely undesired, as it can be interpreted as a model analogue of a 'spontaneous thought'.] However, whenever this happened, the self-regulation mechanism (FI) started to operate, causing the HNC to be 'switched off' soon after its full activation and preparing the ground for the next HNC activation.

European Journal of Neuroscience

The devil never assists men to do supernatural things undesired.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This is a game full of misery and the company is undesired.

The New York Times - Sports

But it is not just among high-tech firms that lack of competition can have undesired consequences.

The Economist

So the problem with illegal immigration is not that it's illegal, exactly, or even that immigration itself is undesired.

The Economist

#ThisIsEgypt pic.twitter.com/BYAOj9UnMq Al Muizz street ❤... in #Cairo #thisisegypt pic.twitter.com/2timTfphGr But it also led to a perhaps undesired reaction.

Independent

Workers have remained a necessary, if undesired, cost.

TechCrunch

E-M Link8 might end up having undesired skeptical implications.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing mental health or cognitive processes, use "undesired thoughts" to refer to thoughts that are unwelcome and can cause distress. Be mindful of the sensitive nature of the topic.

Common error

While "undesired thoughts" is appropriate in many contexts, avoid using overly clinical or technical language when communicating with a general audience. Consider using more accessible terms like "unwanted thoughts" or "intrusive thoughts" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undesired thoughts" functions as a noun phrase where "undesired" acts as an adjective modifying "thoughts". According to Ludwig, it describes thoughts that are unwanted or unwelcome, often in mental health contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undesired thoughts" is a grammatically correct and usable term in English, primarily functioning as a noun phrase to describe unwanted or unwelcome thoughts. According to Ludwig, it's often used in mental health and cognitive contexts. While the phrase itself is relatively infrequent, alternative terms like "unwanted thoughts" or "intrusive thoughts" might be more common in general conversation. When discussing mental health, use this term thoughtfully, considering the sensitive nature of the topic. The phrase appears in both scientific and news media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unwanted thoughts

Replaces "undesired" with a more common synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

intrusive thoughts

Emphasizes the unwanted and disruptive nature of the thoughts.

unwelcome thoughts

Uses a different synonym for "undesired", highlighting the unpleasantness of the thoughts.

distressing thoughts

Focuses on the emotional impact of the thoughts, highlighting their troubling nature.

negative automatic thoughts

Specifically refers to the cognitive aspect, describing thoughts that arise involuntarily and are negative.

unbidden thoughts

Highlights that the thoughts arise spontaneously without any conscious effort.

aversive thoughts

Focuses on the repelling or unpleasant quality of the thoughts.

obsessive thoughts

Emphasizes the repetitive and persistent nature of the thoughts, often associated with OCD.

troubling thoughts

Focuses on the anxiety or worry that these thoughts generate.

unpleasant mental images

Shifts the focus to mental images instead of thoughts but maintains the unwelcome nature.

FAQs

What are some alternative phrases for "undesired thoughts"?

You can use alternatives like "unwanted thoughts", "intrusive thoughts", or "unwelcome thoughts" depending on the context.

How do I use "undesired thoughts" in a sentence?

You can use "undesired thoughts" to describe thoughts that are unwanted or unwelcome. For example, "Many people experience "undesired thoughts" that can lead to anxiety or distress."

Are "undesired thoughts" and "intrusive thoughts" the same?

While both terms refer to unwanted thoughts, "intrusive thoughts" often carries a connotation of being more disruptive and persistent, often associated with conditions like OCD. "Undesired thoughts" is a broader term.

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

It's appropriate to use "undesired thoughts" in contexts where you need to describe thoughts that are unwanted or unwelcome, such as in discussions about mental health, cognitive processes, or personal experiences. However, be mindful of your audience and choose language that is clear and sensitive.