with ill intent

USAGE SUMMARY

"with ill intent" is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about someone performing an action with malicious or evil intent. For example: "He entered the room with ill intent, conspiring to steal the valuable vase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

With a flick of a switch, someone with ill intent can deny access for a minimum of five minutes.

Independent

The ministry also said that the controller did not appear to have acted with ill intent and told the authorities he posted the information to show his friends.

The New York Times

And bands of plainclothes officers — "people in civilian clothes with earplugs," as one former law enforcement official put it — will probably be scanning the crowds to spot anyone with ill intent.

The New York Times

The resolution doesn't explicitly make caller ID spoofing illegal, it makes spoofing with ill intent illegal.

TechCrunch

The statement alleges that the original names were given with "ill intent".

Science Magazine

Ukraine suffered a serious cyber-attack on December 23 , 2015 leaving hundreds of thousands of homes in the dark in what security experts say was a first for hackers with ill intent.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

A spokesperson for the school said that the remark was "not appropriate" but they believe it was not made with an "ill intent".

Independent

Mr. Shanks and others argued that training airport security agents in techniques like behavior analysis would go a long way toward identifying travelers with possible ill intent.

The New York Times

Mr Lagrana has compiled a list of the "seven deadly sins of e-mail", many of which, I daresay, we can all relate to: Carefree exuberance Users who, with no ill intent, are too keen to press the "Reply All" button, and have a tendency for unnecessary e-mails, such as a single-word missive: "Thanks".

The Economist

She said these voters, with no ill intent, may end up registered and voting in both states.

Huffington Post

Some people may be using #AllLivesMatter with the intent to actually further historic discrimination, while others may be using it with no ill intent, thinking it's benign in nature.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions, use "with ill intent" to clearly convey that the subject's purpose is malicious or harmful. This adds precision and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid prematurely attributing actions to "with ill intent". Ensure you have adequate evidence of malicious purpose, as misinterpreting unintentional mistakes as deliberate harm can damage relationships and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with ill intent" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig examples showcase it describing actions related to security breaches, legal interpretations, and personal motivations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "with ill intent" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe actions performed with a malicious or harmful purpose. According to Ludwig, it appears frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While determining if someone acts "with ill intent" can be subjective, using the phrase accurately adds precision and impact to your writing. Alternatives such as "with malicious intent" or "with evil intentions" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Remember to avoid attributing actions to "with ill intent" prematurely, as misinterpreting unintentional mistakes as deliberate harm can be detrimental.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with malicious intent

Replaces "ill" with "malicious", emphasizing the malevolent nature of the intent.

with malevolent purpose

Substitutes "intent" with "purpose" and "ill" with "malevolent", highlighting the evil design.

with evil intentions

Replaces "intent" with the plural "intentions" and "ill" with "evil", focusing on multiple bad aims.

with harmful designs

Changes "intent" to "designs" and "ill" to "harmful", indicating a plan to cause damage.

with sinister motives

Uses "motives" instead of "intent" and "sinister" for "ill", suggesting a wicked underlying reason.

with wicked aims

Replaces "intent" with "aims" and "ill" with "wicked", underscoring immoral goals.

with nefarious schemes

Substitutes "intent" with "schemes" and "ill" with "nefarious", pointing to a secret and evil plan.

with destructive purposes

Changes "intent" to "purposes" and "ill" to "destructive", highlighting the damaging goals.

with malign objectives

Uses "objectives" in place of "intent" and "malign" instead of "ill", indicating harmful goals.

with vicious designs

Replaces "intent" with "designs" and "ill" with "vicious", stressing the cruel plans.

FAQs

How can I use "with ill intent" in a sentence?

You can use "with ill intent" to describe actions performed with a malicious or harmful purpose. For example: "The hacker accessed the system "with ill intent", aiming to steal sensitive data."

What are some alternatives to saying "with ill intent"?

Alternatives include "with malicious intent", "with evil intentions", or "with harmful designs". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it always clear when someone acts "with ill intent"?

No, determining whether someone acts "with ill intent" can be challenging. It often requires careful consideration of context, motivations, and potential consequences, as well as avoiding assumptions based solely on outcomes.

What is the difference between acting "with ill intent" and acting negligently?

Acting "with ill intent" involves a deliberate purpose to cause harm, while acting negligently involves a failure to exercise reasonable care, potentially leading to unintended harm. The key difference is the presence of a malicious purpose.