with harmful intentions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with harmful intentions" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that are meant to cause harm or negative consequences to others. Example: "The hacker accessed the system with harmful intentions, aiming to steal sensitive information."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Vaish, A., Carpenter, M. & Tomasello, M. Young children selectively avoid helping people with harmful intentions.

Nature

For conspiracy, the standard justification is the "group-danger" rationale, which states that since the objective of the criminal law is to protect harm to the community, and the community is at more risk from a group of people with harmful intentions than an individual with those same intentions, conspiracies themselves must be made a crime.

Wikipedia

Residential care centres that accept volunteers quickly become the target for those with harmful intentions towards children.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

By observing the process, it's not long before you can be adequately disenchanted with a harmful intention, thought or feeling in order to outweigh it, and eventually this will become your new "habitual" approach to the negative thought or feeling.

WikiHow

Keeping the head covered in the first week of life was also reported as protecting the baby from harmful intentions : 'the baby's head was covered with a hat and he was clothed to protect his first hair from being seen by bad people so when the cord fell, they shaved his hair' [Narrative mother 21 year, 1 child, educated to standard 7].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

JERUSALEM — What has caused more calamities throughout history: the harmful intentions of evil people or the misguided mistakes of well-intentioned people?

The New York Times

The four-day war and the reported atrocities further deepened this problem: Both sides are even more convinced that the other side harbors nothing but harmful intentions.

The Washington Post

If harmful intentions are evident, the conversation needs to include HR or executive leadership.

Forbes

Virtue is the starting block as letting go of harmful intentions is itself virtue, mental skills and wisdom.

WikiHow

Before a moral judgment can be made, the inappropriate and harmful intention of an actor has to be detected and linked to empathetic engagement with the deceived person.

Plosone

Huntington Beach removing trees infected with harmful beetles.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "with harmful intentions", ensure the context clearly establishes the potential victim and the nature of the intended harm. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "with harmful intentions" in situations where the negative outcome is unintentional or accidental. Opt for phrases like "with unforeseen consequences" or "with negative impacts" to maintain accuracy and avoid misrepresenting the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with harmful intentions" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It describes the manner or purpose behind an action, indicating that the action is carried out with the aim of causing harm. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correctly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "with harmful intentions" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe actions motivated by a desire to cause harm. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is correct and usable in English, effectively conveying malicious intent. While relatively rare in overall usage, the phrase appears in diverse contexts such as news, science, and general discussions. When employing "with harmful intentions", ensure the context clearly justifies the intensity of the phrase and consider alternatives like "with malicious intent" for subtle variations in meaning. Be mindful of overusing it in neutral situations to avoid misrepresenting the actor's actual intention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with malicious intent

Emphasizes the malicious nature of the intention, focusing on the desire to cause harm.

with malicious purposes

Highlights malicious goals or objectives.

with malevolent intentions

Highlights the deep-seated ill will behind the intentions.

with sinister motives

Suggests a hidden and potentially dangerous purpose.

with vindictive intentions

Emphasizes the desire for revenge or retaliation.

with ill intentions

A more general term for having bad or negative purposes.

with destructive aims

Focuses on the potential for causing destruction or damage.

with nefarious designs

Implies a secret and wicked plan.

with damaging purposes

Highlights the intent to cause damage or harm.

with injurious goals

Focuses on the potential to cause injury or harm.

FAQs

How can I use "with harmful intentions" in a sentence?

You can use "with harmful intentions" to describe actions or behaviors designed to cause harm. For example, "The hacker accessed the system with harmful intentions, aiming to steal sensitive data."

What are some alternatives to "with harmful intentions"?

Alternatives include "with malicious intent", "with malevolent intentions", or "with ill intentions", each emphasizing a different aspect of the negative purpose.

Is it appropriate to use "with harmful intentions" in formal writing?

Yes, "with harmful intentions" is appropriate for formal writing when describing deliberate actions meant to cause harm. Ensure the context supports the gravity of the phrase.

What is the difference between "with harmful intentions" and "with bad intentions"?

"With harmful intentions" specifically implies the intent to cause damage or injury, while "with bad intentions" is a more general term indicating negative or unethical purposes. The former is more specific and impactful.