vicious purposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vicious purposes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe intentions or goals that are harmful, cruel, or malicious in nature. Example: "The organization was found to be operating with vicious purposes, seeking to undermine the community's trust and safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The negotiators of yore were obviously supplanted by hijackers with more vicious purposes in mind.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It was a nice vicious circle that served a lot of purposes, not the least of which is that it made my suffering feel noble.

Huffington Post

Both sides are locked in a vicious cycle of violence that serves no purpose.

The New York Times

In many ways, besides the fact that these raids are basically useless for crime prevention purposes, they actually further perpetuate the vicious cycle of homelessness on the streets of New York City.

Vice

Blatantly vicious entities that continually disseminated intentional omissions of truth for the primary purpose of greedily selling sensationalism at the expense of a human life.

Huffington Post

For present purposes, we may understand issues about what is right or wrong, or virtuous or vicious, as raising moral questions.

SEP

This adversely affect the increase of multi-purpose and indigenous tree plantation and ago-forestry practice and hence has a vicious circle with food security.

Environmental Systems Research

This kicked off a vicious power struggle among the group's dozens of admins, over the course of which the group and its purpose went through dozens of changes, not all of which were well received.

Vice

More vicious?

The Guardian - Sport

"It was just vicious, vicious.

The New York Times

Even vicious.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "vicious purposes", ensure the context clearly demonstrates the malicious or harmful intent behind the actions being described. Avoid using it in situations where the intent is merely negative or unfavorable, but not actively harmful.

Common error

Avoid using "vicious purposes" in casual conversation or informal writing. The phrase carries a strong connotation of malice and is more appropriate for formal or serious contexts where deliberate harm or cruelty is implied.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vicious purposes" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying the noun "purposes". It describes the nature or quality of the purposes, indicating that they are characterized by cruelty or malice. As shown by Ludwig, it highlights the harmful intentions behind an action or plan.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vicious purposes" is an adjectival phrase used to describe aims characterized by cruelty or malice. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct, although relatively rare in occurrence. It typically appears in neutral to formal contexts, such as news and media, to express disapproval of harmful intentions. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly warrants the strong negative connotation it carries. Alternatives like "malicious intent" or "harmful intentions" may offer a similar meaning with slight differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious intent

Replaces "vicious" with "malicious", focusing on the intention to do harm.

harmful intentions

Uses "harmful" to describe intentions, broadening the scope beyond just cruelty.

evil designs

Replaces both words to convey a stronger sense of wickedness and scheming.

nefarious schemes

Uses more formal and sinister language to describe secretive and wicked plans.

cruel aims

Focuses specifically on the cruelty aspect of the purposes.

destructive goals

Highlights the damaging outcome of these purposes.

malevolent objectives

Emphasizes the ill-will and spite behind the aims.

wicked ambitions

Conveys a sense of immoral and selfish desires driving the purposes.

perfidious motives

Suggests treachery and deceit as the underlying reason.

immoral agendas

Highlights the ethical wrongness of the planned actions.

FAQs

What does "vicious purposes" mean?

"Vicious purposes" refers to intentions or aims that are characterized by cruelty, malice, or an intent to cause harm or suffering.

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

You can use "vicious purposes" to describe the motivations behind harmful actions, such as "The organization was found to be operating with vicious purposes, seeking to undermine the community's trust and safety."

What are some alternatives to "vicious purposes"?

Alternatives include "malicious intent", "harmful intentions", or "evil designs". Each of these "malicious intent", "harmful intentions", or "evil designs" carries slightly different connotations but conveys a similar sense of harmful intent.

Is "vicious purposes" formal or informal?

"Vicious purposes" is generally considered a formal phrase due to its strong connotation and serious implications. It's more suitable for formal writing and serious discussions.