confronting despair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confronting despair" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of facing or dealing with feelings of hopelessness or sadness. Example: "In her latest novel, the protagonist is portrayed as confronting despair in the aftermath of her loss."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Oft looking to find it Confronting despair Ashamed of doubting My plight, my dark lair.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

What I see everywhere in the world are ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance of grace, justice, and beauty to this world.

Huffington Post

A boy confronts his despair over his mother's death.

The New York Times - Books

But it is mostly engaging, and particularly effective when the protagonist, Sly, a debt-ridden, hard-drinking poet and balladeer who has been the victim of a cruel hoax, is locked in a wine cellar and confronts his despair.

The New York Times

As a professor, the passion to develop your students is confronted with despair when you find out that a large percentage of those you taught and guided are falling prey to the realities that you knew they would face in the world, yet you are powerless to help them after graduation.

Columbia University

Then, and only then, is it even possible for the prophet to confront the despair of the empire in ruins with hope for the possibility of healing and restoration.

Huffington Post

Eagle-eyed, she patrols the Square, confronting evil and despair and asking those stricken with doubt to trust God, while simultaneously organizing the local Neighbourhood Watch scheme".

Wikipedia

In Beida and other cities, youths who despaired of confronting African mercenaries' heavy-calibre machineguns with stones resorted to dynamite used for catching fish.

The Economist

A postwar poet unafraid to confront her own despair.

The New York Times

Her characters struggle against ideological notions about a woman's proper role; face practical entanglements with husbands and children; worry about money; confront the private despair that leads to drinking, madness, or suicide.

The New Yorker

Using this theoretical framework, I return to the economics literature and examine the extent to which economics has, at least implicitly, recognized despair without necessarily confronting it either in theory or policy design, argue why this failure has weakened both our theory and our policy, and suggest a possible remedy.

Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "confronting despair" to describe the active process of acknowledging and addressing feelings of hopelessness, rather than passively experiencing them.

Common error

Avoid using "confronting despair" in a passive voice construction, which can obscure the actor and weaken the impact of the statement. For example, instead of "Despair was being confronted", use "She was confronting despair."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confronting despair" functions as a verbal phrase acting as a gerund, where "confronting" is the gerund and "despair" is its object. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "confronting despair" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression that describes the act of actively addressing feelings of hopelessness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. This phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Academia, suggesting its suitability for both formal and informal writing. Alternatives such as "facing despair" or "dealing with despair" can be used to add nuance, while avoiding passive voice constructions ensures clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

facing despair

Uses a different verb with similar meaning.

dealing with despair

Employs a more active verb, focusing on the process of management.

tackling despair

Suggests a more direct and forceful approach.

overcoming despair

Highlights the successful resolution of despair.

combating despair

Implies an ongoing struggle against despair.

addressing despair

Focuses on acknowledging and discussing despair.

grappling with despair

Emphasizes the difficulty and complexity of dealing with despair.

meeting despair head-on

Conveys a sense of bravery and directness in facing despair.

challenging despair

Positions despair as something to be questioned and resisted.

withstanding despair

Highlights the ability to endure and remain strong despite despair.

FAQs

How can I use "confronting despair" in a sentence?

You can use "confronting despair" to describe someone actively facing feelings of hopelessness. For example, "The protagonist's journey is about "confronting despair" and finding resilience."

What's a good alternative to "confronting despair"?

Alternatives include "facing despair", "dealing with despair", or "overcoming despair", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "confronting despair" formal or informal?

"Confronting despair" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the overall tone and subject matter than the specific setting.

When is it appropriate to use "confronting despair"?

Use "confronting despair" when you want to emphasize the active and deliberate effort to face and address feelings of hopelessness. It suggests a proactive approach rather than a passive experience.