a wave of sadness

USAGE SUMMARY

"a wave of sadness" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a sudden and powerful emotion of sorrow, or a period of time where one feels an overwhelming sense of sadness. Example sentence: As soon as they heard the news, a wave of sadness swept over the family.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

But it elicited a wave of sadness nonetheless.

The New York Times

The thought brings on a wave of sadness.

The Guardian

Yet she felt a wave of sadness, and that, she reasoned, made no sense.

Harvard University

At around 11 pm that night, I felt a wave of sadness wash over me out of nowhere.

Independent

Three years ago, Monday morning's alarm brought with it a wave of sadness followed by debilitating anxiety – Mum had bowel cancer and I had depression.

The Guardian - Opinion

A wave of sadness sweeps over me, realising that what should have been the start of a temporary absence of 10 to 12 months is now to be a final farewell.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Then a wave of utter sadness passed over me as I read of her own death and of the tragic circumstances of her first husband's loss.

BBC

The news of Steve Jobs' death sent a wave of incredible sadness through our home.

HuffPost

And in the months that followed, a wave of great sadness entered into all of our lives.

Huffington Post

We were just finishing our food and I was about to drive her to her hotel, when suddenly, I was hit with a weird-ass feeling, like a wave of existential sadness.

Vice

He hopes an encounter with one of his projects will bring shivers down your spine, put you in a state of awe, and bring on either giggles or a sweeping wave of sadness.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a wave of sadness" to vividly describe a sudden, intense feeling of sorrow, particularly when highlighting its overwhelming nature. For example, "A wave of sadness washed over her as she remembered her childhood."

Common error

While effective, "a wave of sadness" can become repetitive. Vary your descriptions of sadness by using different metaphors or directly stating the feeling for a more nuanced and impactful writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wave of sadness" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It is used to describe an intense and often sudden feeling of sorrow. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a wave of sadness" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a sudden and intense feeling of sorrow. Ludwig AI validates its usage across diverse contexts, primarily within news and media, academia and wiki sources. Related phrases such as "a surge of sorrow" or "a pang of sadness" offer alternative ways to express similar emotions with slightly different nuances. When using this phrase, be mindful of overusing it in your writing and consider varying your descriptions to create a more impactful effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a surge of sorrow

Replaces "wave" with "surge", indicating a sudden increase in sorrow.

a flood of grief

Substitutes "wave" with "flood", suggesting a more overwhelming emotional experience.

a pang of sadness

Uses "pang" instead of "wave", implying a sharp, sudden feeling of sadness.

a wash of melancholy

Replaces "sadness" with "melancholy" and "wave" with "wash", indicating a gentle yet pervasive sadness.

a tide of sorrow

Uses "tide" instead of "wave", suggesting a cyclical and recurring feeling of sorrow.

a veil of gloom

Employs "veil" and "gloom" to convey a sense of pervasive darkness and sadness.

an abyss of despair

Conveys a feeling of profound hopelessness and sadness.

a bout of grief

Uses "bout" implying a temporary period of sadness.

an episode of sorrow

Uses "episode" which suggests a distinct and limited period of sorrow.

a descent into despondency

Suggests a gradual decline into a state of sadness.

FAQs

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

You can use "a wave of sadness" to describe a sudden and intense feeling of sorrow. For example, "A wave of sadness swept over her when she heard the news."

What are some alternatives to "a wave of sadness"?

Alternatives include "a surge of sorrow", "a pang of sadness", or "a flood of grief", each conveying a slightly different nuance of sorrow.

Is "a wave of sadness" a commonly used phrase?

Yes, "a wave of sadness" is a commonly used phrase to describe an intense feeling of sorrow, appearing in various forms of literature, news, and everyday conversation.

What does "a wave of sadness" imply about the feeling of sadness?

The metaphor "a wave of sadness" suggests that the feeling is sudden, overwhelming, and possibly temporary, similar to how a wave washes over someone.