consigned to oblivion

USAGE SUMMARY

'consigned to oblivion' is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is typically used to describe something that has been forgotten or neglected and is no longer remembered. For example, "Much of the history of the small town has been consigned to oblivion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

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

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

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

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

But less so, lately, especially here in the United States, where we whistle past our graveyards and keep our dead at greater distance, consigned to oblivions we seldom visit, estranged and denatured, tidy and Disney-fied memorial parks with names like those of golf courses or megachurches.

The New York Times

"Barry" would be a great deal less foreign-sounding than Barack, one media consultant told him, and "Hussein" was a middle name reminiscent, for many, of an Iraqi tyrant and worth consigning to oblivion.

The New Yorker

Because of the digital revolution, he argues, it is easier to keep everything – the drunken email you sent your boss, the photo you put on Facebook in which you're doing something non-CV-enhancing to an inflatable cow – rather than go through the palaver of deciding what to consign to oblivion.

The Guardian - Tech

In his book Delete: The Virtue of Forgetting in the Digital Age, Mayer-Schönberger points out that the digital revolution makes it is easier to keep everything – the drunken email you sent your boss, the wacky photo you put on Facebook – rather than go through the palaver of deciding what to consign to oblivion.

The Guardian - Tech

This is the same thing that others, including startup Shoebox, and Dropbox with Carousel, are also clueing in on, but Google has an immense wealth of data to draw from to turn the aimless shotgun fire of user vacation photos into a focused emotional asset that they might actually look at again, instead of consigning to oblivion.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "consigned to oblivion" to describe the state of something being completely forgotten or disregarded, particularly when it has been deliberately overlooked or faded significantly over time. For instance, "The once-popular technology was quickly consigned to oblivion after newer innovations emerged."

Common error

Avoid using "consigned to oblivion" for temporary setbacks or minor oversights. The phrase implies a permanent or near-permanent state of being forgotten. Using it for something easily recoverable diminishes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "consigned to oblivion" functions as a passive construction, describing the state of something being completely forgotten or intentionally disregarded. Ludwig AI's examples illustrate its use in diverse contexts, from historical events to outdated technologies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "consigned to oblivion" is a passive construction used to describe something being completely forgotten or intentionally disregarded. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use in various contexts, especially News & Media and Scientific articles. The phrase implies a sense of finality and permanence, making it suitable for describing situations where something has been irrevocably forgotten or set aside. While the register is generally neutral, it leans towards formal usage, emphasizing its appropriateness for academic, professional, and journalistic writing. Remember to use it when conveying a sense of finality in being forgotten.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passed into oblivion

A more literal and direct synonym, emphasizing the state of being forgotten.

relegated to obscurity

Focuses on the act of being moved to an unimportant place.

consigned to the dustbin of history

Implies complete and irreversible irrelevance.

lost to the mists of time

Suggests a gradual and natural forgetting over a long period.

dismissed into obscurity

Highlights a deliberate act of dismissal leading to being unknown.

fallen into disuse

Emphasizes the lack of current usage or practice.

faded from memory

Highlights the gradual loss of recollection.

relegated to the footnotes

Suggests being considered unimportant in a broader context.

buried in the past

Emphasizes a deliberate act of suppressing or forgetting.

vanished without a trace

Conveys a sudden and complete disappearance from awareness.

FAQs

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

Use "consigned to oblivion" to describe something that has been completely forgotten or deliberately ignored, such as "The outdated business model was "consigned to oblivion" after the company adopted new strategies".

What are some alternatives to "consigned to oblivion"?

Alternatives include "relegated to obscurity", "fallen into disuse", or "lost to the mists of time", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "consigned to oblivion" in formal writing?

Yes, "consigned to oblivion" is suitable for formal writing as it is grammatically correct and widely used in reputable news and media sources, as well as academic and scientific contexts.

What's the difference between "consigned to oblivion" and "forgotten"?

"Forgotten" simply means not remembered, whereas "consigned to oblivion" implies a deliberate act or process that leads to something being completely and irrevocably forgotten or ignored. It carries a stronger sense of finality.