borne of despair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "borne of despair" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has originated or resulted from a state of despair or hopelessness. Example: "The novel's themes were borne of despair, reflecting the author's struggles during a difficult period in their life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It is a coarse policy of development, borne of despair.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nine years ago I began writing about hope, and I eventually began to refer to my project as "snatching the teddy bear of despair from the loving arms of the left".

The Guardian - Opinion

Lammy rashly dismisses the riots as not straightforwardly borne out of despair, frustration and a lack of trust in the authorities – especially the police.

The Guardian - Books

It was born of despair.

The New York Times - Sports

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Vice

If the Yankees had lost the series, the image of Knoblauch standing at the base and pointing dramatically would have become the glossy memory forever stuffed into the mental album of despair borne by devastated fans.

The New York Times - Sports

But certain social aspects of this pastime bore me to the brink of despair, and top of the tree of tedium is trash-talk about shoes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I think that what destroys me when I look at this image is the depth of despair of the bear who cannot understand his circumstances and will never escape them, and remembering that I saw bears just like this one during my childhood.

Huffington Post

I have to try and keep this sort of balance going which is really, really hard work … (Int 5) The only thing that changes is the fluctuation of my emotions so I have to bear that in mind as well and not get full of despair … so I have to sort of cushion it between getting too high and getting too low.

BMC Psychiatry

But this clinical description misses the deep, experiential horror of the condition; the suffocating sense of despair that can make life seem too arduous to bear.

Huffington Post

"The grocer of despair".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "borne of despair" to describe actions, creations, or situations that are directly caused by a feeling of hopelessness or extreme sadness. Ensure the context clearly establishes the preceding despair.

Common error

Avoid using "borne of despair" when the cause is merely frustration or annoyance. Despair implies a deeper, more profound sense of hopelessness than simple dissatisfaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "borne of despair" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun by describing its origin or cause. As Ludwig AI points out, it indicates that something has arisen directly from a state of hopelessness or extreme sadness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "borne of despair" is a phrase used to describe something that originates from a state of profound hopelessness or extreme sadness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and notes its appearance in diverse sources, including news, academic texts and scientific articles. While not frequently used, the phrase is appropriate for conveying a sense of deep emotional origin. It's important to use it accurately, ensuring the context genuinely reflects despair rather than mere frustration. Remember that "born of despair" is a valid alternative, and the specific choice between the two depends on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

born from desperation

This alternative emphasizes the desperation aspect more directly than "despair".

arising from hopelessness

This phrase highlights the lack of hope as the primary cause.

originating in despair

This phrase emphasizes the point of origin as being within a state of despair.

stemming from adversity

This alternative focuses on the challenging circumstances that led to the outcome.

motivated by despair

This alternative focuses on despair as the driving force behind an action or creation.

a product of desperation

This version uses "product" to signify a result or outcome.

created out of desperation

This alternative uses "created" to suggest an active process influenced by desperation.

founded on hopelessness

This version suggests a foundational basis of hopelessness.

emerging from deep sorrow

This phrase uses "deep sorrow" to convey the emotional source.

resulting from profound sadness

This option replaces despair with the more general term "profound sadness".

FAQs

How can I use "borne of despair" in a sentence?

Use "borne of despair" to describe something that originates from a state of extreme hopelessness or desperation. For example: "The protest movement was "borne of despair" after years of government inaction."

What's a good alternative to "borne of despair"?

Alternatives include "born from desperation", "arising from hopelessness", or "stemming from adversity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "born of despair" instead of "borne of despair"?

Yes, "born of despair" is also correct and frequently used. "Born" and "borne" are past participles of different verbs, but in this context, "born" is often used to indicate origin or creation.

What is the difference in connotation between "borne of despair" and "motivated by despair"?

"Borne of despair" suggests that despair is the direct cause or origin, while "motivated by despair" implies that despair is the driving force behind a particular action or decision. The former is a more passive consequence, the latter an active influence.