abject despair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abject despair" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a state of hopelessness and utter misery. For example, "The loss of his job plunged him into abject despair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"It was a horrible feeling of abject despair and self-loathing".

The New Yorker

The English are suddenly cocky again, five minutes after abject despair.

The Guardian - Sport

Typically, when British people read about developing countries in their national newspapers, they read about catastrophe and abject despair – war, civil unrest, famine, natural disaster and environmental meltdown.

The Guardian

This from Andrew Jolly: "We need something that encompasses the feeling of antipathy, followed by great hope, finishing in abject despair that being a British sports supporter is all about (Team GB GB GB! 2008 aside).

The Guardian

The smeared blood, the bag of body parts, the abject despair of a mother who slowly comes to realize she has murdered her beloved son — it seems to be happening in the wrong place, to the wrong people.

The New York Times

We start in Azzi's whitewashed home in a war-torn country and follow her to a British hostel and a kind yet – at first – alien primary school, and we witness her father's abject despair at not being allowed to work.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Even as the "sandwiches at Patisserie Salzburg" sit there, mockingly "wrapped in wax paper and tied in pink ribbon," the world of the $300K set is a brutal panorama of abject economic despair.

Huffington Post

"I've been vacillating between these highs of total exhilaration at the opportunity and abject terror and despair," she said.

The New York Times

I suppose you could argue that Mr. Dunster's women are given the upper hand, since both men embark upon variably abject slides into despair, or worse.

The New York Times - Arts

The current flareup vividly demonstrates the cruelty and degenerate morality of Hamas by using men, women and children as human shields to safeguard its cache of rockets, subjecting innocent Palestinians to abject poverty and despair.

Huffington Post

As a boy at Pontianak, he witnessed firsthand some of the most gruesome and cruel aspects of the Pacific War only rarely speaking of the events and always with an abject and dark despair at such inhumanity.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "abject despair" to convey a sense of utter hopelessness and profound misery. This phrase is particularly effective when describing situations where there is no apparent chance of recovery or improvement.

Common error

Avoid using "abject despair" to describe minor setbacks or disappointments. This phrase is reserved for situations involving extreme suffering and hopelessness, and its overuse can diminish its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abject despair" functions as a noun phrase, where "abject" modifies "despair", intensifying the feeling. As Ludwig highlights, it is a grammatically sound phrase. It describes a state of profound hopelessness and misery.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Abject despair" is a phrase used to describe a state of complete and utter hopelessness. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various reputable sources, predominantly in news and media. It is important to reserve this phrase for situations of extreme suffering, avoiding its overuse in milder contexts. Alternatives like "utter hopelessness" or "profound despondency" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey. As per Ludwig's AI, the phrase effectively communicates a deep sense of misery and lack of hope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utter hopelessness

Emphasizes the complete lack of hope.

profound despondency

Highlights a deep state of low spirits and sadness.

complete dejection

Focuses on a feeling of being utterly cast down or disheartened.

deep sorrow

Emphasizes the profound sadness experienced.

crushing disappointment

Highlights the overwhelming feeling of being let down.

overwhelming grief

Focuses on the intensity of sorrow, especially after a loss.

intense anguish

Emphasizes the severe mental or physical suffering.

extreme misery

Highlights the state of great unhappiness and suffering.

total devastation

Focuses on the feeling of being completely destroyed emotionally.

unmitigated gloom

Highlights the absence of any positive or comforting aspects.

FAQs

How to use "abject despair" in a sentence?

"Abject despair" is used to describe a state of complete hopelessness and misery. For example, "After losing everything in the fire, he sank into abject despair."

What can I say instead of "abject despair"?

You can use alternatives like "utter hopelessness", "profound despondency", or "complete dejection" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "abject despair"?

The phrase "abject despair" is appropriate when describing situations of extreme suffering, loss, and hopelessness, where there is little or no prospect of recovery or improvement.

What is the difference between "abject despair" and simple sadness?

"Abject despair" describes a much more profound and overwhelming state of hopelessness than simple sadness. It implies a complete lack of hope and a deep sense of misery, whereas sadness can be a more transient and less intense emotion.