despite wishing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despite wishing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a contrast between a desire and the reality of a situation. Example: "Despite wishing for a peaceful resolution, the negotiations broke down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

According to the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), this is something fragrance suppliers are increasingly willing to do, despite wishing to keep trade-secret protection in place.

The Guardian

Sterling remains in the Liverpool manager's plans for the final game of the season at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday, despite wishing to leave the club and becoming embroiled in another week of adverse publicity.

The Guardian - Sport

Still, she's reluctant to say that the play's original message is obsolete, despite wishing it were so.

Vice

Despite wishing to shoot the film in France, Besson could not find suitable facilities and "with a heavy heart" instead filmed in London.

Wikipedia

Despite wishing it to be basic, or regressive, the music and the responses to it have been measured and nuanced — something very little of his work has enjoyed.

Vice

For example, addicted smokers may struggle to quit, despite wishing to become smoke-free.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

While there is no sense of a player mutiny at present, this week's revelation that the club captain, Nemanja Vidic, is exploring leaving this summer, despite United wishing to open discussions over a new deal, is the latest crack in unity.

The Guardian - Sport

Andre of Square Enix Music Online, however, despite also wishing for more original arrangements, felt that the quality was superb and that the album as a whole was "one of life and energy".

Wikipedia

That's more shade for Apple, who's HomePod only works with Apple Music despite customers obviously wishing they could play other streaming services through it.

TechCrunch

URL shortening services are a dime a dozen, and despite wishes for them to vanish (with good reason) they're here to stay and more popular than ever given the abundance of social services that thrive on short messages and links.

TechCrunch

Despite wishes to the contrary, there are still only 24 hours in a day.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite wishing" to clearly express a contrast between a desire or hope and an opposing reality or action. This construction adds nuance and acknowledges the unfulfilled desire.

Common error

Avoid using "despite wishing" in very simple sentences where a direct contrast using "but" or "although" would be more effective. This can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite wishing" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a clause of concession. It sets up a contrast between a desire or intention and the actual outcome or situation. Ludwig examples confirm this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite wishing" is a grammatically sound and usable prepositional phrase that introduces a contrasting element to an expressed desire. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and utility across diverse sources, including news, wiki articles, and scientific publications. While "despite wishing" is not exceedingly common, it serves as a precise way to acknowledge a wish while highlighting a different reality. Consider alternatives like "even though desiring" or "regardless of wanting" for stylistic variation, as appropriate for your context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even though desiring

This alternative uses "desiring" which is a more formal synonym for "wishing".

regardless of wanting

This phrase replaces "wishing" with "wanting", providing a slightly less formal alternative.

notwithstanding the desire

This is a more formal construction, emphasizing the contrast with a stronger term.

in spite of hoping

Replaces "wishing" with "hoping", focusing on expectation rather than desire.

though yearning

This uses "yearning" to convey a stronger sense of longing.

despite the inclination

Replaces "wishing" with a more neutral term, "inclination".

even if longing

Expresses a similar idea with a stronger emotional tone using "longing".

irrespective of craving

This alternative emphasizes a strong desire using "craving".

although favoring

Substitutes "wishing" with "favoring", implying a preference.

while desiring

A more concise alternative that still conveys the contrast.

FAQs

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

Use "despite wishing" to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previously expressed desire or hope. For example, "Despite wishing for a sunny day, we packed umbrellas."

What are some alternatives to "despite wishing"?

You can use alternatives like "even though desiring", "regardless of wanting", or "notwithstanding the desire" depending on the desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "despite wishing" and "in spite of wishing"?

The phrases "despite wishing" and "in spite of wishing" are largely interchangeable and carry the same meaning. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

Can "despite wishing" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "despite wishing" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, consider using a more sophisticated alternative like "notwithstanding the desire".