despite hurting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite hurting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a situation where someone continues to do something or feels a certain way even though it causes them pain or discomfort. Example: "She smiled at him despite hurting from the recent breakup."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Mayweather won easily, handily, by a unanimous decision, scored 117-111 by all three judges, and he did so despite hurting his right hand in the middle rounds.

The New York Times - Sports

As a Yankee in 2004, Quantrill set a club record with 86 appearances, despite hurting his right knee on opening night in Tokyo when Alex Rodriguez bumped into him on a fielding play.

The New York Times - Sports

On the 2020 campaign trail the issue of small donors versus big money is already flaring up, with Elizabeth Warren vowing not to court wealthy donors despite hurting for campaign funds.

The Guardian

Alexander, 26, landed numerous heavy blows despite hurting his left hand in the opening round.

BBC

"My main fear was not doing the fans proud and I can sit here now, despite hurting from the defeat, and say we did that.

BBC

Ashley Cole also started despite hurting his right ankle in training the day before the game under a heavy challenge from Claude Makélélé.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Despite clearly hurting himself on that last series, he is back in the game.

The Guardian - Sport

Tasha Schwikert, the only holdover from the 2000 Olympic team, put on a gutty performance despite a hurting Achilles' tendon that made her a question mark this week.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite Alex hurting his foot playing football, he can't wait to play again - once bitten, twice shy!

BBC

And Moreno shelled out all the money despite still hurting from big-bust contracts given to Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols, because he knows that Trout is very, very different.

Los Angeles Times

The Titans won 11 of 12 to finish second in the A.F.C., despite McNair's hurting so much that he did not practice in December.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite hurting" to create a sense of resilience or determination in your writing. It shows that a subject is continuing despite experiencing some form of pain, whether physical or emotional.

Common error

Avoid using "despite hurting" when a different preposition like "because of" or "due to" would better describe the cause of an action. "Despite" implies an action continues in spite of pain, not because of it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite hurting" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It indicates a circumstance that does not prevent an action from occurring, as Ludwig examples show. It highlights a contrast between the expected outcome (stopping due to pain) and the actual outcome (continuing).

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66.66%

Wiki

16.66%

Academia

8.33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite hurting" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to express resilience or continued action in the face of pain, as seen in Ludwig. It functions as an adverbial modifier, adding contrast and emphasis. While considered neutrally registered, it appears most frequently in news and media sources. To avoid common errors, ensure its use accurately reflects the intention to continue in spite of discomfort, and explore alternative phrasings to suit varying contexts. Alternatives such as "in spite of the pain" or "even though it caused pain" can provide similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of being in pain

Replaces the gerund "hurting" with a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing the state of being in pain.

notwithstanding the pain

Offers a more formal alternative to "despite", maintaining a similar structure.

even though it caused pain

Uses a clause to explicitly state the cause-and-effect relationship, replacing "despite" with "even though".

though in discomfort

Similar to "despite", this offers a slightly more understated tone.

even with the injury

Emphasizes the presence of an injury as a factor not preventing the action.

while experiencing discomfort

Focuses on the experience of discomfort, offering a slightly milder alternative.

in the face of physical suffering

Uses more dramatic and emphatic language to highlight the level of discomfort.

although feeling sore

Specifies the type of pain as soreness, which is suitable for physical discomfort.

while injured

A concise way to indicate continuing despite an injury.

regardless of the ache

Uses "regardless of" to emphasize the lack of impact of the ache on the action.

FAQs

How can I use "despite hurting" in a sentence?

You can use "despite hurting" to show someone continued an action even when experiencing pain, such as, "She finished the race "despite hurting" her ankle early on."

What phrases are similar to "despite hurting"?

Alternatives include "in spite of the pain", "even though it caused pain", or "although feeling sore". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "despite hurting", or are there better options?

While grammatically correct, "despite hurting" may sometimes sound less natural than alternatives. Consider the tone and context to ensure it effectively conveys your intended meaning. Phrases like "even with the injury" may be more appropriate in some cases.

Can "despite hurting" apply to both physical and emotional pain?

Yes, "despite hurting" can apply to both physical and emotional pain, although context is important. For emotional pain, you might also consider phrases like "despite feeling sad" or "despite being upset", which may be more specific.