a wave of depression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wave of depression" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden and overwhelming feeling of sadness or despair that affects a person or a group of people. Example: "After hearing the news, I was hit by a wave of depression that lingered for days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"It's as if you might stop at a traffic light and suddenly get a wave of depression or ecstasy.

The New York Times

Nothing changed for Londoners but for the onset of a wave of depression and anger, a bad intimation.

The New York Times

Rather than letting short winter nights bring a wave of depression, the idea is that Land Rover owners "embrace winter in the UK, get out and enjoy it".

The Guardian

Interviewees consistently said that the limbo they are trapped in – which has left them far from loved ones, without access to work and education, and without any clarity on their future – has led to a wave of depression and mental health problems.

The Guardian

When I think of Buddy's death, I feel like a wave of depression and disappointment are washing over me.

Vice

When your reactions of fear, dread, anxiety, panic or a wave of depression can't be controlled due to frightening events, don't be afraid to reach out and get help.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In 1903, suffering a wave of financial depression, she had cast about for something to do, and had been advised to try writing.

The New Yorker

In other words, a wave of spreading depression in the visual cortex can induce nociceptive signals in the overlying meninges, resulting in sequential activation of peripheral (first-order) and central (second-order) neurons of the trigeminovascular pathway, which is a likely mechanism of migraine headache.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

But this didn't signal a wave of mass depression.

Huffington Post

"All of a sudden I was hit with a massive wave of depression and anxiety and self-hatred, where the feelings were so painful that I would slam my head against a tree to try to knock myself out," she told Vogue.

Independent

This is of importance as headache may be initiated by a spreading wave of depression of cortical neurons resulting in contraction of some parts of the cerebral circulation.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a wave of depression" to describe a sudden, intense feeling of sadness or despair. It is effective for conveying a strong emotional experience that temporarily overwhelms an individual.

Common error

Avoid using "a wave of depression" to describe mild or fleeting sadness. This phrase denotes a powerful emotional experience, and overusing it can diminish its impact and appear melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wave of depression" functions as a noun phrase, serving primarily to describe a sudden, intense experience of sadness. It vividly portrays a surge of negative emotion, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a wave of depression" is used to describe a sudden and intense feeling of sadness or despair. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. While examples are relatively uncommon, its usage is prevalent in news and media, as well as scientific discussions. When writing, remember that this phrase effectively conveys a strong, overwhelming emotional experience, so reserve it for situations where the intensity of the feeling warrants such a vivid description. If it doesn't, consider less intense alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a surge of sadness

This alternative replaces "wave of depression" with "surge of sadness", focusing on the sudden and intense feeling of sadness.

a bout of melancholy

This alternative uses "bout of melancholy" to indicate a period of sadness, replacing the imagery of a wave with a more clinical term.

a flood of despair

This alternative uses "flood of despair" to emphasize the overwhelming nature of the feeling, similar to a wave.

a descent into gloom

This alternative describes a gradual decline into a state of unhappiness, differing from the suddenness of a wave.

a period of despondency

This alternative replaces "wave" with "period", suggesting a longer duration of low spirits.

an episode of sadness

This alternative is less intense, describing a discrete instance of feeling down.

a touch of the blues

This is a more colloquial and lighter way to describe feeling sad, reducing the intensity of the expression.

moments of sorrow

This alternative focuses on brief instances of sadness, differing from the continuous nature implied by "wave".

undercurrent of sadness

This portrays a constant, underlying feeling of unhappiness, contrasting with the suddenness of a wave.

feeling downcast

This alternative simply states the feeling, without the imagery of a wave.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a wave of depression" in a sentence?

Use "a wave of depression" to depict a sudden, overwhelming feeling of sadness or despair. For example, "After receiving the bad news, "a wave of depression" washed over her".

What are some alternatives to saying "a wave of depression"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "a surge of sadness", "a flood of despair", or "a bout of melancholy" to convey similar feelings.

Is it appropriate to use "a wave of depression" in formal writing?

While acceptable, "a wave of depression" might be more suited for narrative or descriptive writing. In formal contexts, consider more clinical or neutral terms like "despondency" or "melancholy".

How does "a wave of depression" differ from simply feeling sad?

"A wave of depression" implies a sudden and intense experience of sadness that is overwhelming and often short-lived, whereas simply feeling sad suggests a more general and potentially longer-lasting state of unhappiness.