with sinister intent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with sinister intent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that are done with malicious or harmful purposes. Example: "The character in the story plotted his revenge with sinister intent, leaving no room for mercy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It would be relatively simple for someone with sinister intent to introduce foot-and-mouth disease, or other crippling livestock maladies prevalent on other continents that do not exist in North America, into herds of American livestock, he said.

The New York Times

But poor Lazarus isn't the only hapless, stranded wanderer here: there's the protagonist traversing the snowbound landscape of "Moonland", possibly with sinister intent; the becalmed merman (or so it seems) pondering his fate in "Night of the Lotus Eaters"; the lonely, estranged fantasist of "Hold On To Yourself"; and an entire cast of bewildered loners in "Albert Goes West".

Independent

If it didn't prove that Lindberg has reinvented the orchestra, he nevertheless finds new configurations, new colours in familiar places: the bass clarinet that bubbled away with sinister intent, the mighty battery of five percussionists beating out secret messages to each other.

The Guardian

Believers of one conspiracy theory claim that the persistent condensation trails left behind aircraft in the sky so-called "chemtrailsky so-calledchemtrailsvert lareevidencespraying oferation with sinister intent.

Science Magazine

The hours he spent gazing with sinister intent at the birds with the misfortune to live in the trees underneath our apartment windows.

Huffington Post

Doors appear where there weren't any before, secret passageways seem to have been formed by someone/something with sinister intent, staircases lead nowhere.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The questions are highly charged because they are linked to the role of the state, a debate that begins in virtually every policy area with assumptions of sinister intent.

Independent

Play it!" Further down the chart is Hannibal Lecter's misquoted,"Hello, Clarice", in 1991's Silence of the Lambs (the line that Anthony Hopkins imbues with goose-pimply sinister intent is, "Good evening, Clarice") and "Beam me up, Scotty" – never uttered by William Shatner's James T Kirk in any of the Star Trek films; rather, it's "Scotty, beam us up".

The Guardian - Film

I was an intruder, a foreigner who arrived unbidden into the neighborhood with a camera, a notebook, a deadline and oh-so-friendly intentions that concealed sinister intent.

The New York Times - Magazine

Even where a reliable price-cost or profit-sacrifice test is feasible, failing it need not imply sinister intent.

The Economist

Mr. Kirchner has successfully amended the Constitution here to allow himself to pack the provincial Supreme Court with supporters, to run for governor as many times as he wishes and to revise the electoral code to favor his slate of candidates, but his supporters deny any sinister intent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with sinister intent" to clearly convey that an action is being performed with a malicious or harmful purpose. This phrase adds a layer of gravity and foreboding to the description.

Common error

While "with sinister intent" is a powerful phrase, avoid using it in casual or trivial situations. Overusing it can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with sinister intent" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to describe the manner in which an action is performed. It adds a layer of meaning that indicates the action is carried out with a malicious or harmful purpose, as supported by examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "with sinister intent" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, though not overly common, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is primarily used in News & Media, Wiki and Science contexts to convey a sense of calculated malice and impending danger. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While alternatives like ""with malicious purpose"" or ""with evil intentions"" exist, "with sinister intent" adds a unique flavor of foreboding to written text. Use it judiciously to maximize its impact, avoiding overuse in casual contexts. The analysis indicates its effectiveness in emphasizing deliberate harm or malevolence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with malicious purpose

Replaces "intent" with "purpose", emphasizing the deliberate nature of the malice.

with malevolent design

Substitutes "sinister intent" with "malevolent design", highlighting a planned evil scheme.

with wicked aim

Replaces "intent" with "aim", focusing on the evil goal being pursued.

with nefarious motive

Changes "sinister intent" to "nefarious motive", stressing the underlying reason for the action.

with evil intentions

A more common and direct way of expressing the same idea, replacing "sinister intent" with a plural noun phrase.

with dark purposes

Replaces "sinister intent" with "dark purposes", focusing on the hidden and malevolent nature.

with hostile objectives

Substitutes "sinister intent" with "hostile objectives", emphasizing the antagonistic goals.

with treacherous plans

Replaces "intent" with "plans", highlighting the deceitful and unreliable nature of the scheme.

with bad faith

Expresses a lack of honesty or sincerity of intention.

with harmful goals

Replaces "sinister intent" with "harmful goals", focusing on the detrimental outcome.

FAQs

What does "with sinister intent" mean?

The phrase "with sinister intent" means acting with a deliberate purpose to cause harm, evil, or misfortune. It implies a calculated and malicious plan behind the action.

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

You can use "with sinister intent" to describe the motivations behind someone's actions, such as "The villain approached the hero "with sinister intent", planning to steal the artifact."

What are some alternatives to "with sinister intent"?

Alternatives include phrases like "with malicious purpose", "with evil intentions", or "with nefarious motive", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "with sinister intent" or "with malicious intent"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "with sinister intent" carries a stronger sense of foreboding and calculated evil, while "with malicious intent" is more general in its connotation of harmful intention.