as devoid as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as devoid as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the lack of something in one subject to the complete absence of that thing in another. Example: "Her expression was as devoid as a blank canvas, lacking any hint of emotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Inspired also by the pursuit of pure movement as devoid as possible of emotional implications, Cunningham developed "choreography by chance," a technique in which selected isolated movements are assigned sequence by such random methods as tossing a coin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

As devoid of pretense as she was of makeup, Ms. Gross dutifully edged into the throng.

The New York Times - Arts

There are red lines even in a war as devoid of clarity as Syria's.

The New Yorker

Professor Minford's arguments are not as devoid of reason as that, but they are almost as divorced from reality.

The Guardian - Opinion

If I met him, I would be curious to discover whether he was really as devoid of humor as is his book.

The New York Times - Books

West is north Cumbria - officially an area of outstanding natural beauty as devoid of humanity as the Lake District is nigh-on ruined by it.

The Guardian - Travel

Elsewhere, the mystery as to why someone as devoid of talent as Victoria Beckham became one of the most famous women in the world is solved; she is related to Carl Heinrich Pfaender.

The Guardian - Music

Florida's sandy soil, Mr. Estabrook writes, is as devoid of plant nutrients as a pile of moon rocks.

The New York Times - Books

Walsh is pictured letting himself into a spacious abode every bit as devoid of comfort as the properties routinely wheeled out during judges' so-called houses.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This behavior is rendered with a naturalness that is as devoid of discernible artifice as any performance I've ever seen onstage.

The New York Times

He is, on the other hand, about as devoid of artifice and grandiosity as anybody you will meet on Capitol Hill.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as devoid as" to create a strong comparison emphasizing the complete absence of something in one subject relative to another. For example, "His face was as devoid of emotion as a stone statue."

Common error

Avoid using "devoid of" with abstract nouns that inherently imply absence. Saying "a plan devoid of ambiguity" is redundant because a plan should ideally lack ambiguity anyway. Instead, use it to highlight the unexpected absence of something, for instance, "a battlefield devoid of courage".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as devoid as" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It serves to emphasize the complete absence of a particular quality or characteristic in the subject being described, by comparing it to something else that is similarly or completely lacking. Ludwig AI states that it compares the lack of something in one subject to the complete absence of that thing in another.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as devoid as" is a grammatically sound comparative adjective phrase used to emphasize a complete lack of something. Ludwig AI confirms its function to compare the absence of a quality in one subject to its total lack in another. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias, it maintains a neutral to formal register. When using "as devoid as", ensure it's paired with nouns that logically allow for absence, avoiding redundancy. For alternatives, consider "as lacking as" or "as empty as" for similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as lacking as

Replaces "devoid" with "lacking", focusing on the absence of something rather than complete emptiness.

as empty as

Uses "empty" to convey a sense of absence, often emphasizing a lack of content or substance.

as bare as

Implies a stark absence, similar to "devoid", but can also suggest simplicity or exposure.

as deficient as

Focuses on the inadequacy or incompleteness, rather than a total absence.

as wanting as

Highlights the need or desire for something that is missing.

as without as

Emphasizes the absence using "without", creating a more direct statement of lacking something.

as absent as

Indicates that something is missing or not present, highlighting its non-existence.

as short as

Highlights a deficiency or insufficiency compared to something else, focusing on quantity.

as devoid from

Although "devoid" is typically followed by "of", using "from" can create a similar sense of absence, but is less conventional.

as denuded as

Suggests that something has been stripped away, leaving a comparable emptiness.

FAQs

How can I use "as devoid as" in a sentence?

The phrase "as devoid as" is used to compare the lack of something in one subject to the complete absence of that thing in another. Example: "The landscape was as devoid of trees as a desert".

What are some alternatives to "as devoid as"?

You can use alternatives like "as lacking as", "as empty as", or "as bare as" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "devoid from" instead of "devoid of"?

While you might encounter "devoid from", the standard and more grammatically correct phrasing is "devoid of". Therefore, using "devoid of" is generally recommended.

What does "devoid" mean?

"Devoid" means completely lacking in something. The phrase "as devoid as" then makes a comparison between the subject and something else known for lacking that quality. For example, "His argument was as devoid of logic as a child's daydream".