Ill-intentioned

Characterized by or resulting from malicious or harmful intent; having or showing bad will or a desire to cause harm or misfortune to another person or people. It describes actions, plans, remarks, or individuals driven by a negative motivation, often intending to deceive, manipulate, or inflict suffering. The term implies a deliberate and calculated approach, where the perpetrator understands the potential adverse effects of their actions. It's frequently associated with acts of cruelty, dishonesty, and sabotage, highlighting a lack of genuine concern for the well-being of others. It is used to assess the moral compass or the motivation behind an action.

Ill-intentioned meaning with examples

• The detective immediately suspected the seemingly helpful neighbor was ill-intentioned when he noticed subtle discrepancies in his story, and his overly solicitous behavior felt off. Every gesture seemed designed to mislead and obscure the truth, pointing towards a deeper, more sinister motive beneath his façade of kindness.
• The company's takeover bid was widely criticized as ill-intentioned; many believed it aimed to dismantle the competitor rather than improve the market. They argued the aggressive strategy would lead to job losses and market dominance with little to no benefit for the consumers or the employees involved.
• Despite the flowery language used in the proposal, the underlying tone of the politician's speech revealed him as ill-intentioned. His subtle jabs at the opposition and thinly veiled promises that lacked a practical plan indicated a drive to divide the people for personal gain and garner support.
• The online troll's barrage of hateful comments clearly demonstrated an ill-intentioned purpose. The intention was not to share opinions but to cause emotional distress and stir up conflict among the users of the forum, highlighting a calculated disregard for the victims feelings.
• The sabotage was considered by the investigation team to be the result of an ill-intentioned employee. Their attempts to damage the project by destroying the prototypes and by leaking sensitive data indicated malice as the primary motive, revealing a betrayal of trust.