close to nothingness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to nothingness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state or condition that is nearly non-existent or very minimal. Example: "After the long drought, the once vibrant landscape was reduced to close to nothingness, with only a few patches of dry grass remaining."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If you stare at a wall from four in the morning till nine at night and you do that for a week, you are getting pretty close to nothingness.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I once brushed against a transport truck at 50 miles an hour on a highway ramp, when I saw the little trail of white paint left by the truck on my car, confirming how close I'd come to nothingness, I was retroactively shaken for days.

Huffington Post

". "I've never been able to understand nothingness completely, but I can get close to it when I watch professional bowling on television".

Vice

"I've never been able to understand nothingness completely, but I can get close to it when I watch professional bowling on television," he joked.

Vice

Their idea is to evoke the nothingness the death camp produced by removing Birkenau wholesale from that beautiful landscape.

Los Angeles Times

You begin with its close: Then on the shore Of the wide world I stand alone, and think Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.

The New Yorker

The universe will revert to nothingness.

The New York Times - Science

I am delivered up to nothingness".

The New Yorker

We come from nothingness and return to nothingness when we die.

The New Yorker

Typically, light can travel for hundreds of feet through ocean water before diminishing to nothingness.

The New York Times - Science

The Croats stayed put; the Brazil shot missed; the line faded to nothingness.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to nothingness" to describe situations where something is severely diminished or on the brink of disappearing entirely, conveying a sense of extreme reduction or absence.

Common error

Avoid using "close to nothingness" in situations where a simple descriptor of small quantity or low value would suffice. It's most effective when emphasizing a dramatic reduction or near-total absence rather than everyday scarcity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to nothingness" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its state. It emphasizes the degree to which something approaches a state of non-existence or extreme reduction, as Ludwig AI confirms. Examples show it describing abstract states and physical conditions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Science

10%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to nothingness" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, though not extremely common. Ludwig AI's analysis and the provided examples show that its primary function is to describe a state or condition nearing non-existence or extreme reduction. While versatile, it's most effectively employed in contexts where emphasizing a dramatic decline or near-total absence is intended. Alternatives such as "almost nonexistent" or "verging on oblivion" can be used depending on the desired nuance. It is frequently found in "News & Media" and "Science", and its use should be reserved for appropriate contexts to avoid diminishing its impact. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is considered grammatically correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost nonexistent

Directly states that something is barely present or virtually absent.

verging on oblivion

Indicates approaching a state of being forgotten or unknown, similar to nearing nothingness.

on the verge of vanishing

Suggests an imminent disappearance, akin to fading into nothingness.

nearing total absence

Emphasizes the approach towards a complete lack of something, like existence or substance.

akin to emptiness

Expresses a similarity to a state of being empty or vacant, paralleling nothingness.

bordering on insignificance

Highlights the proximity to being unimportant or trivial, much like approaching nothingness.

tantamount to void

Equates the situation to a complete absence or vacuum.

approaching zero

Implies a movement towards a state of having no value or quantity.

nearly devoid of substance

Focuses on the lack of content or material, resembling the quality of nothingness.

approximating nullity

Indicates an approximation to the state of being null or having no legal force.

FAQs

How can I use "close to nothingness" in a sentence?

You can use "close to nothingness" to describe something that is almost completely gone or has very little substance remaining. For example, "After years of neglect, the garden was "close to nothingness"".

What are some alternatives to saying "close to nothingness"?

Alternatives include "almost nonexistent", "nearing total absence", or "verging on oblivion", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "close to nothingness"?

Yes, "close to nothingness" is a grammatically correct phrase. It functions as a descriptive phrase indicating a state of being near non-existence or insignificance.

What is the difference between "close to nothingness" and "complete nothingness"?

"Close to nothingness" implies that something is approaching a state of complete absence, while "complete nothingness" suggests that absolutely nothing exists. The former indicates a process or state of reduction, whereas the latter signifies a total absence.