bleak wind

USAGE SUMMARY

"bleak wind" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a cold, uninviting wind. For example, "The bleak wind blew harshly against my face as I stepped outside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Barnacle geese lay their eggs at the tops of cliffs, all blue and bleak, wind bloody everywhere.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Doctor Zhivago Boris Pasternak Vintage £7.99, pp 510 Boris Pasternaks's 1958 Nobel Prize-winning novel of ill-starred love is told with a mournful musicality and set within bleak, wind-swept panoramas.

The Guardian - Books

My husband, a glass half-empty man, adheres to a Brontë-esque notion of what constitutes a romantic landscape - bleak and wind-blasted to the point of Stygian desolation.

The Guardian - Travel

To reach it, you either have to walk up a rather bleak, stale‑smelling, winding staircase or take a small, wood-panelled lift, that isn't quite as old and decrepit as it looks.

The Guardian

The bleak undertaking wound down Wednesday after cadaver dogs helped with one last sweep of the ruins.

Los Angeles Times

Joys ever young, unmix'd with pain or fear, Fill the wide circle of the eternal year: Stern winter smiles on that auspicious clime: The fields are florid with unfading prime; From the bleak pole no winds inclement blow, Mould the round hail, or flake the fleecy snow; But from the breezy deep the blest inhale The fragrant murmurs of the western gale.

The New Yorker

As if, were he let go or stop speaking or otherwise give up, then the whole universe would fall apart and it would be nothing but that bone-rattling wind and bleak starless skies forever.

Huffington Post

An immediate start could be made now by stopping the trade in unprocessed logs and so initiating the intermediate manufacturing of the raw material locally.Cameron Aitken Gartmore, StirlingshireBlowing in the windSIR – You painted an unnecessarily bleak view of today's wind industry ("Wild is the wind", September 25th).

The Economist

Through broken walls and gray The winds blow bleak and shrill: They are all gone away.

The New York Times - Books

During the Cultural Revolution, he was sent to a rural state farm, where the bleak landscape with roaring winds and ferocious wild fires made a profound and lasting impression.

Columbia University

We'd leave the office and step out into the bleak darkness, the frigid winds roaring down the empty avenues.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bleak wind" to evoke a sense of coldness, desolation, and harshness in your writing. It's particularly effective in setting a somber or melancholic mood.

Common error

Avoid using "bleak wind" when describing positive or cheerful settings. Its connotations of negativity can create a jarring contrast and undermine your intended tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bleak wind" functions primarily as a descriptive element, combining an adjective ("bleak") with a noun ("wind") to create a vivid image. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase evokes coldness, desolation, and harshness, providing a strong sense of atmosphere.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bleak wind" is a powerful combination used to evoke feelings of coldness, desolation, and harshness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and commonly found in various reputable sources, particularly in News & Media. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, its evocative nature makes it particularly effective in descriptive writing, setting a somber or melancholic mood. Consider alternatives like "desolate wind" or "bitter wind" for subtle variations in meaning. Avoid using it in overly optimistic settings to maintain tonal consistency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desolate wind

Replaces "bleak" with "desolate", emphasizing emptiness and abandonment.

bitter wind

Substitutes "bleak" with "bitter", focusing on the harsh and unpleasant quality of the wind.

raw wind

Replaces "bleak" with "raw", highlighting the wind's unrefined and piercing nature.

icy wind

Substitutes "bleak" with "icy", stressing the coldness and frigidity of the wind.

cutting wind

Replaces "bleak" with "cutting", emphasizing the wind's sharp and penetrating effect.

chill wind

Substitutes "bleak" with "chill", focusing on the coldness the wind brings.

wintry wind

Replaces "bleak" with "wintry", associating the wind with the harshness of winter.

windswept desolation

Shifts the focus to the scene caused by the wind, rather than directly describing the wind itself.

forlorn wind

Substitutes "bleak" with "forlorn", giving a sense of loneliness to the wind.

austere wind

Replaces "bleak" with "austere", emphasizing the stark and simple nature of the wind.

FAQs

How can I use "bleak wind" in a sentence?

You can use "bleak wind" to describe a physical environment (e.g., "The "bleak wind" swept across the deserted plains") or a metaphorical situation (e.g., "A "bleak wind" of change was blowing through the industry").

What words are similar to "bleak wind"?

Synonyms and related phrases include "desolate wind", "bitter wind", "raw wind", and "icy wind", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is "bleak wind" a formal or informal expression?

"Bleak wind" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall tone of your writing. It is frequently found in News & Media, indicating its broad applicability.

What is the effect of using "bleak wind" in writing?

Using "bleak wind" creates a sense of coldness, emptiness, and often despair. It effectively sets a somber or melancholic atmosphere and can add depth to descriptions of harsh environments or difficult situations.