been consigned to oblivion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been consigned to oblivion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been forgotten or disregarded, often implying that it is no longer relevant or remembered. Example: "Many once-popular trends have been consigned to oblivion, overshadowed by newer fashions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Rodriguez, they noted, had not been consigned to oblivion in Michigan.

The Guardian - Film

The event would have been consigned to oblivion had the newspaper not digitised its archives a few years later.

The Economist

Well, those men must have left Motorola behind when they came back to Earth, because the American handset maker has been consigned to oblivion in the last few years, first by Nokia and more recently by Apple.

The Guardian - Tech

From German Southwest Africa (now Namibia), Burundi, and eastern Congo to Tasmania, Tibet, and Kurdistan, from the mass killings of the Roms by the Nazis to the extermination of the Assyrians in Ottoman Turkey, the mind reels when confronted with the inhuman acts that have been consigned to oblivion.

University of Pennsylvania

Not quite a festival in the usual sense, with red carpets and blue-ribbon selection committees, the program — under the auspices of Film Comment, the venerable magazine published by the Film Society of Lincoln Center — presents new work gleaned from the festival circuit along with revivals and rescues of movies that might otherwise have been consigned to oblivion.

The New York Times

Then there were the dozens of uncatalogued blueprints of the now-demolished Roosevelt Stadium, where the first black man in Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson, once played; the plans had been consigned to oblivion in a dark corner of the stacks.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Sadly, after this Christmas season these pieces of spendable art will be consigned to oblivion.

The New York Times

What stories are being consigned to oblivion as it is dismantled?

The Guardian - Arts

If he wins Labour could fall apart or be consigned to oblivion.

The Guardian

Lizbekistan eventually acquired several thousand citizens before being consigned to oblivion last year.

The New York Times - Tech

It was consigned to oblivion on December 23rd, in an almost unanimous vote of the country's parliament.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "been consigned to oblivion" to describe something that has not just been forgotten, but actively dismissed or relegated to insignificance. It implies a deliberate act, not just a passive fading from memory.

Common error

Avoid using "been consigned to oblivion" in casual conversation or informal writing. Its formal tone can sound pretentious or overly dramatic in everyday contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been consigned to oblivion" functions as a predicate adjective phrase within a passive construction. It describes a state of having been completely forgotten or disregarded. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in formal English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "been consigned to oblivion" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes something completely forgotten or deliberately dismissed. While the phrase is most frequently found in news and academic contexts, as supported by Ludwig AI, it should be used judiciously in informal settings to avoid sounding overly formal. Alternatives like "been forgotten" or "lost to history" can be more appropriate in those cases. Remember that the strength of this phrase lies in its implication of a final and often intentional act of forgetting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

been utterly forgotten

A simpler, more direct way to express the idea of complete oblivion.

fallen into obscurity

Replaces "consigned to oblivion" with a more direct expression of losing prominence.

been lost to history

Focuses on the disappearance of something from historical records and awareness.

faded from memory

Emphasizes the gradual disappearance of something from people's minds.

sunk into oblivion

Uses "sunk" to convey a sense of irreversible descent into obscurity.

passed into oblivion

Highlights the transition of something into a state of being forgotten.

relegated to the past

Focuses on the act of assigning something to a previous era, implying irrelevance.

consigned to the dustbin of history

More metaphorical and dramatic, suggesting complete and utter rejection.

lost to the annals of time

More poetic and emphasizes the effect of the passing of time.

become a thing of the past

A more common and less formal way of saying something is no longer relevant.

FAQs

How can I use "been consigned to oblivion" in a sentence?

You can use "been consigned to oblivion" to describe something that has been completely forgotten or deliberately ignored, like: "Many outdated technologies have "been consigned to oblivion" by newer innovations."

What is a simpler alternative to "been consigned to oblivion"?

For simpler alternatives, you can use phrases such as "been forgotten", "lost to history", or "faded from memory", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "consigned to oblivion" or "relegated to oblivion"?

"Consigned to oblivion" and "relegated to oblivion" are both correct, but "consigned" implies a more complete and final act of forgetting or dismissing something, while "relegated" suggests a lowering in status or importance before being forgotten.

What's the difference between "fallen into obscurity" and "been consigned to oblivion"?

"Fallen into obscurity" generally describes a gradual process of something becoming less known or important, while "been consigned to oblivion" suggests a more deliberate act of dismissal or forgetting. The first describes a passive process; the second, an active one.