ambition for power

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ambition for power" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong desire or drive to attain power or influence, often in a political or organizational context. Example: "His ambition for power led him to make questionable decisions that ultimately alienated his allies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Lucien believed that Napoleon's growing ambition for power was jeopardizing the cause of democracy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Over time, Mr. Sankoh, who is in his 60's, seemed driven by ambition for power.

The New York Times

Mr. Shara managed to avoid purges and reshuffles under both the father, who died in 2000, and son, which some historians attribute to his fealty and absence of any ambition for power.

The New York Times

If he had an ambition for power, it was for Labour Party power: he has fought a long, losing battle on the National Executive Committee against the drift to the right.

Independent

-it is you who deliver me from ambition for power, from servitude to party, from respect for routine... .. Proudhon's word l'ironie," which we have translated "humor," possibly loosely, but at any rate with serenity and joy.

The New Yorker

Very much like the Christians in the Roman Empire, the noes have had it most often less through numbers than through discipline and self-confidence and an ambition for power, even claiming, like Christians, the assent of a state: first Republican France, then the Soviet Union.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Burke had remarkable empathy for other people's suffering from power, but limited sympathy for other people's ambitions for power.

The New Yorker

Chinese officials also clearly worry that the United States plans to ring China with military alliances to contain Beijing's ambitions for power and influence.

The New York Times

We can assume, though, we are not as far along as we would be in the effort to provide equality if Mehlman, Rove, Bush, and McKinnon were as interested in their country as they were their own craven self interests and ambitions for power and money.

Huffington Post

After announcing its ambitions for powering more high-end devices like laptops a few months ago, the company today discussed its roadmap for chips that are dedicated to internet infrastructure and that will power everything from high-performance servers to edge computing platforms, storage systems, gateways, 5G base stations and routers.

TechCrunch

Here lies the religious basis of Frederick William's ambition for political power and of his immense, yet restrained, energy, which is still evident today in Andreas Schlüter's famous equestrian statue of the Great Elector in Berlin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "ambition for power", ensure the context clearly indicates whether the ambition is viewed positively or negatively. Adding adjectives like "unbridled" or "noble" can shape the reader's perception.

Common error

Avoid using "ambition for power" repeatedly without providing context or nuance. This can make your writing seem simplistic or judgmental. Instead, vary your language and provide specific details about the nature and consequences of the ambition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ambition for power" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It describes a state of desiring or striving for control and authority. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ambition for power" is a grammatically sound and neutrally registered noun phrase that describes the desire to attain influence or control. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's important to consider the context in which it's used. As seen from the usage examples provided, the phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. To maintain nuance, writers should qualify the phrase with descriptive adjectives or alternative phrases such as "drive for authority" or "quest for influence" to accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drive for authority

Replaces "ambition" with "drive" and "power" with "authority", emphasizing motivation towards influence.

quest for influence

Substitutes "ambition" with "quest" and "power" with "influence", highlighting the pursuit of impact.

desire for control

Replaces "ambition" with "desire" and "power" with "control", emphasizing the wish to manage outcomes.

hunger for dominance

Substitutes "ambition" with "hunger" and "power" with "dominance", conveying a strong craving for supremacy.

yearning for authority

Replaces "ambition" with "yearning" and "power" with "authority", suggesting a deep longing for control.

aspiring to leadership

Focuses on the aim of achieving leadership roles, suggesting an ambition towards directing others.

pursuit of command

Highlights the active chasing of a position of command, suggesting an ambition for control.

striving for authority

Emphasizes the effort made to attain authority, reflecting ambition in the context of achieving influence.

push for influence

Suggests a forceful effort to gain influence, implying an ambition for impacting outcomes.

craving for control

Highlights a strong desire to maintain control, suggesting an ambition for directing situations and people.

FAQs

How can I use "ambition for power" in a sentence?

You can use "ambition for power" to describe someone's strong desire to gain influence or control, such as, "His "ambition for power" led him to make ruthless decisions".

What's a more neutral way to express "ambition for power"?

Instead of "ambition for power", you could use phrases like "desire for influence" or "quest for authority" to convey a similar meaning without the potentially negative connotation.

Is "ambition for power" always negative?

Not necessarily. While "ambition for power" can imply a ruthless pursuit, it can also describe a positive drive to lead and make a difference. The context determines the connotation.

What are some alternatives to "ambition for power" that focus on positive leadership?

Alternatives like "drive for leadership" or "aspiring to leadership" emphasize the positive aspects of wanting to guide and inspire others, rather than just seeking control.