a wave of despair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wave of despair" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden and overwhelming feeling of hopelessness or sadness that affects a person or a group. Example: "After hearing the news of the disaster, a wave of despair swept over the community, leaving everyone in shock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The release to the streets of mentally ill people, with no support or therapeutic care, created a wave of despair.

The New York Times

That way, Springer says, if a veteran is "hit by a wave of despair or fright, or if the wrong circumstances come into his life, or he's been drinking" and gets the impulse to grab his gun, the box's other contents might change his mind.

University of California, Berkeley

On Wednesday, after a grand jury declined to indict the officer, the words — and the video — were revived in a wave of despair and fury that rolled as far out as the corridors of Capitol Hill and the streets of Oakland, Calif.

The New York Times

And combined with the internet, media saturated world of our own making, a wave of despair has been generated unlike any I have seen in my lifetime of half a century.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The rise of Isis was facilitated by Nouri al-Maliki's divisive sectarian approach which allowed Isis to ride a wave of Sunni Arab despair.

Independent

A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling a small wave of despair about being a writer and teacher at a time when common wisdom holds that "no one reads anymore". But then some of my UC Riverside students sought me out on campus to thank me for introducing them to a book.

Los Angeles Times

Today, after a fun evening together with Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life.

Los Angeles Times

After a happy evening with his parents, the e-mail said, "in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life".

The New York Times

Mr. Garcia's injuries, though, touched off a new wave of despair among Tyler Pipe's employees.

The New York Times

"We had two drivers of white vans come forward who were at shooting scenes to say, 'I was there, but it wasn't me.' " Ms. Franklin's shooting brought a fresh wave of despair.

The New York Times

And the emotions which I have experienced again and again flooded back to me in a wave of tears, grief, and despair.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a wave of despair" to describe a sudden, intense feeling of hopelessness, often in response to specific events or situations. Ensure the context supports the image of something overwhelming and temporary.

Common error

Avoid using "a wave of despair" in contexts where a more direct or literal description of sadness or hopelessness would be more appropriate. Overuse can diminish the impact of the metaphor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wave of despair" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a sudden and intense feeling. As Ludwig AI confirms, it depicts overwhelming hopelessness or sadness. Examples show it often follows verbs like "created" or "touched off."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a wave of despair" is a noun phrase used to describe a sudden and overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not extremely common, the phrase appears across various contexts, particularly in news and media, where it serves to convey strong emotional responses. Related phrases include "a surge of hopelessness" and "a flood of sadness". When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that the context supports the metaphorical image and to avoid overuse, which can diminish its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a surge of hopelessness

Emphasizes the sudden and powerful nature of the feeling, similar to "a wave of despair".

a flood of sadness

Highlights the overwhelming and all-encompassing nature of the despair.

a moment of profound sadness

Focuses on the temporary nature of the feeling, contrasting with the potentially longer duration implied by "wave".

a deep sense of hopelessness

Shifts the emphasis to the internal feeling rather than the external metaphor of a wave.

an overwhelming sense of loss

Specifically addresses the feeling of loss as a component of despair.

a crushing feeling of despondency

Uses stronger language to convey the intensity of the feeling.

a pit of desolation

Metaphorically represents despair as a deep, empty space.

an abyss of anguish

Uses more dramatic and literary language to describe the feeling of despair.

a trough of depression

Uses related terminology related to "depression" instead of despair.

a heart full of grief

Focuses on the heart as the center of emotional pain and sorrow.

FAQs

How can I use "a wave of despair" in a sentence?

You can use "a wave of despair" to describe an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. For example: "The news of the company's failure brought "a wave of despair" to the employees."

What's the difference between "a wave of despair" and "a sense of sadness"?

"A wave of despair" implies a sudden, intense, and overwhelming feeling, while "a sense of sadness" suggests a milder, more sustained emotion.

What can I say instead of "a wave of despair"?

You can use alternatives like "a surge of hopelessness", "a flood of sadness", or "a deep sense of hopelessness" depending on the context.

Is "a wave of despair" an overused phrase?

While not inherently overused, "a wave of despair" is a fairly common metaphor. Using it sparingly and ensuring it fits the context will maximize its impact.