wanting to cause harm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wanting to cause harm" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing intentions or motivations behind actions that may be harmful to others. Example: "His actions were driven by a deep-seated desire, wanting to cause harm to those who had wronged him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The ACLU declares that only one motive for disclosing intimate images without consent is impermissible: wanting to cause harm.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Or Patrice, who struggles to stop drinking and using drugs, and really doesn't want to cause harm to others, but who robs people to fund her addiction.

The Guardian

We have hackers that are on our side to help protect us from hackers and countries that want to cause harm.

The New York Times

"What it does is to underscore just how vulnerable people are to those who want to cause harm," Brennan, the CIA director, said after his breach, according to a CNN report.

The Guardian - Tech

"We don't want to cause harm to any community, not the islanders or the British," Kirchner said yesterday in her yearly address to Congress, adding that Argentina's diplomats have been instructed to approach Britain to permit the state airline Aerolíneas Argentinas to service the route, instead of the Chilean airline LAN.

The Guardian

After the shooting, President Obama said that although there would always be people who wanted to cause harm, there were basic steps that might make it "a little harder for them to do it, because right now it's just too easy".

The New Yorker

Looking resigned in a long gray T-shirt and baggy pants, Mr. Yates, 37, told Justice Budd G. Goodman in State Supreme Court that he had learned a lesson from his tangling with the tiger -- and the law -- and that he had never wanted to cause harm.

The New York Times

Speaking to BBC Trending Jadhav says "an argument may surface that it is important to show the real face of ISIS," but that since the group wants to "cause harm by spreading these videos, it is important to take a stand against them".

BBC

My husband was a good person, he never wanted to cause harm to people".

Vice

"Unfortunately, we have people in our country who want to cause harm to students, and at some point you have to respond to that threat," Superintendent Ray Schulte told the Associated Press.

Vice

It was commonly agreed that no pregnant woman wants to cause harm to her baby by consuming alcohol, and that there must be motivations for consuming alcohol or not consuming it.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing motives, use "wanting to cause harm" to specifically highlight the intention behind harmful actions. This provides clarity and emphasis on the actor's state of mind.

Common error

Avoid using "wanting to cause harm" in highly formal or academic writing. More precise and professional terms like "malicious intent" or "intent to inflict damage" often lend a more serious and credible tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wanting to cause harm" functions as a gerund phrase, typically acting as a noun. It describes a state of mind or motivation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wanting to cause harm" functions as a gerund phrase that describes the intention behind harmful actions. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively rare, it appears across various contexts such as news, science, and general discussions, signaling a neutral register. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "intending to inflict damage" for greater precision and credibility. Understanding the intention behind actions is crucial for effective communication, and this phrase allows for a focused analysis of malicious motivations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intending to inflict damage

Focuses on the planned action of causing damage.

desiring to inflict injury

Highlights the wish to cause physical harm.

aiming to do harm

Emphasizes the goal of causing harm.

seeking to do evil

Indicates a broader intention of malicious acts.

having malicious intent

Stresses the presence of evil purpose.

motivated by malice

Highlights the driving force behind the harmful intention.

bent on destruction

Focuses on a determined intention of demolition.

nursing a desire for vengeance

Highlights a long-held wish for revenge.

plotting to do damage

Specifies the planning of damage.

harboring destructive intentions

Emphasizes the existence of plans that are destructive.

FAQs

How can I use "wanting to cause harm" in a sentence?

You can use "wanting to cause harm" to describe the motivation behind someone's actions, as in "His actions were driven by a desire, wanting to cause harm to his enemies".

What's a formal alternative to "wanting to cause harm"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases such as "intending to inflict damage" or "having malicious intent", which convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Is "wanting to cause harm" always negative?

Yes, the phrase inherently carries a negative connotation, as it describes the desire to inflict damage or injury on someone or something.

How does "wanting to cause harm" differ from "causing harm"?

"Wanting to cause harm" refers to the intention or desire to inflict damage, while "causing harm" describes the actual act of inflicting damage. The former is about motivation, and the latter is about action and consequence.