desperately sick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "desperately sick" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is very ill or suffering from a serious health condition. Example: "After weeks of battling the flu, she felt desperately sick and decided to visit the doctor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

The fact is that British democracy is now desperately sick, and the 2005 result was a symptom of its sickness.

The Guardian - Opinion

Andreas Whittam Smith: Our democracy is desperately sick.

Independent

Soon he cannot contemplate violence without feeling desperately sick.

The New Yorker

Doctors in Botswana are staggered at how desperately sick many patients are when they first arrive.

The Economist

The men, in their 20s, arrived from the countryside desperately sick.

The Guardian

It is clearly the humane thing to do for desperately sick people with little hope of recovery.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

The result of the nursing crisis -- the neglect of the sick -- is starkly apparent here on the dilapidated wards of Lilongwe Central Hospital, where a single nurse often looks after 50 or more desperately ill people.

The New York Times

Mazes of dingy corridors, outdated equipment and filthy wards where linens are absent and rats run freely greet the desperately poor and sick patients seeking care.

The Guardian

Paul Farmer, a Harvard Medical School professor and anthropologist, has helped revolutionize the world's health establishment's view of health care for desperately poor people sick with complex diseases like AIDS or drug-resistant tuberculosis by arguing that they can be treated.

The New York Times - Arts

We see them in the eyes of the single mother of a sick child, desperately hoping she's eligible for Medicaid insurance.

Huffington Post

When the Colonialists came to America, they brought the British health beliefs of the time with them, which meant they were convinced that all that red ooze inside your body was making you sick and desperately needed draining.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "desperately sick" to emphasize the severity and urgency of someone's illness, especially when their condition requires immediate attention or care.

Common error

Avoid using "desperately sick" when describing minor ailments. Reserve this phrase for situations where the individual's health is genuinely at serious risk to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desperately sick" functions as a descriptive phrase, where "desperately" modifies the adjective "sick" to intensify the severity of the illness. It's used to emphasize the critical nature of someone's health condition as seen in Ludwig AI's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "desperately sick" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe someone in a severe state of illness. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it emphasizes the urgency and seriousness of a health condition. While alternatives like "gravely ill" or "critically ill" exist, "desperately sick" effectively conveys the need for immediate attention. It's important to reserve this phrase for genuinely serious conditions to maintain its impact. When writing, ensure to use it to highlight the critical nature of a medical situation, avoiding overuse in less severe cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Gravely ill

Indicates a serious or critical state of health, emphasizing the severity of the illness.

Critically ill

Highlights the critical nature of the illness, suggesting immediate danger to life.

Extremely unwell

Emphasizes the high degree of discomfort and poor health experienced by the individual.

Acutely unwell

Describes a sudden and severe onset of illness, emphasizing the sharpness of the condition.

Seriously ailing

Indicates a decline in health to a significant degree, suggesting a concerning condition.

Terminally ill

Refers to an illness that cannot be cured and is expected to lead to death.

In a precarious medical condition

Emphasizes the instability and uncertainty of the person's health status.

In dire straits medically

Suggests that the person's medical condition is in a very bad or dangerous situation.

Fighting for their life

Conveys the intensity of the struggle against a life-threatening illness.

On death's door

A more figurative expression indicating that someone is very close to dying.

FAQs

How can I use "desperately sick" in a sentence?

You can use "desperately sick" to describe someone experiencing a severe and urgent illness. For example, "The doctor rushed to help the "desperately sick" patient.".

What are some alternatives to "desperately sick"?

Alternatives include "gravely ill", "critically ill", or "extremely unwell" depending on the context and desired emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "desperately sick"?

It is appropriate when describing a condition that is severe, requires immediate attention, and poses a significant threat to the individual's health. Avoid using it for minor or temporary ailments.

What's the difference between "seriously ill" and "desperately sick"?

"Seriously ill" indicates a concerning health condition, while "desperately sick" suggests a more urgent and critical state requiring immediate action. "Desperately sick" conveys a higher degree of severity than "seriously ill".