devoid of democracy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devoid of democracy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, system, or government that lacks democratic principles or practices. Example: "The regime was criticized for being devoid of democracy, suppressing free speech and political dissent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Prior to 2011, the Middle East stood out on the map as the sole remaining region in the world virtually devoid of democracy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Islamabad demonstrations have developed a public realization that Pakistan's current state of affairs indicates a system devoid of practices following spirit of true democracy.

Huffington Post

Civilian rule had fragmented, and a return to full civilian control would first require the establishment of local democracy hearkening back to Ayub Khan's "basic democracies"—a system devoid of competitive political parties.

Britannica

Parody of democracy.

Independent

And what of democracy?

Forbes

"Trust forms of democracy".

BBC

18 However, the counter to the 'wisdom of democracy' is the failings of democracy.

BMJ Quality and Safety

A public realm devoid of religious authority may be the price of living in a modern democracy.

The New York Times - Arts

As Mr. Rose bemoans the love that ended or vows to face life uncompromised and on his own, the music on "Chinese Democracy" swells and crashes all around him, frantic and nearly devoid of breathing space.

The New York Times - Arts

Elite foreign policy think tanks like the Belfer Center are environments largely devoid of the oxygen of the billions whose human rights are violated, and who yearn for more democracy.

Forbes

Devoid of social value.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "devoid of democracy", ensure the context clearly indicates a complete or near-complete absence of democratic principles, not merely a deficiency or imperfection.

Common error

Avoid using "devoid of democracy" when the situation involves merely a weak or flawed democracy; reserve it for cases where democratic elements are virtually nonexistent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devoid of democracy" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that the noun lacks democratic principles or characteristics. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devoid of democracy" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe the complete or near-complete absence of democratic principles in a system or region. While infrequent, its usage is primarily observed in news, encyclopedic, and academic contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. When using this phrase, ensure the context accurately reflects the total or near-total lack of democracy, avoiding its application to situations where democracy is merely weak or flawed. Related alternatives include "lacking democracy" and "without democracy". Therefore, reserve the phrase for precise and impactful communication about the absence of democracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking democracy

Uses a different adjective to convey the absence of democracy.

without democracy

Employs a preposition to indicate the absence of democracy.

democracy is absent

Reverses the structure to emphasize the absence of democracy.

democracy is missing

Implies that democracy should be present but is not.

undemocratic

A single adjective directly describing something as not democratic.

absence of democracy

Uses a noun phrase to describe the state of lacking democracy.

short on democracy

Suggests a deficiency in democratic practices.

deficient in democracy

Formal way to express that there is a lack of democracy.

bereft of democracy

A more literary way to express the lack of democracy.

democracy is nonexistent

Emphasizes that the concept of democracy does not exist in the context.

FAQs

How can I use "devoid of democracy" in a sentence?

You can use "devoid of democracy" to describe a political system or region where democratic principles are absent. For example: "The country was criticized for being "devoid of democracy", with no free elections or political opposition allowed."

What are some alternatives to "devoid of democracy"?

Alternatives include "lacking democracy", "without democracy", or stating that "democracy is absent" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "devoid of democracy" in formal writing?

Yes, "devoid of democracy" is appropriate for formal writing when accurately describing a situation where democracy is completely or nearly absent. However, ensure your assessment is supported by evidence.

What's the difference between "devoid of democracy" and "undemocratic"?

"Devoid of democracy" implies a complete absence of democratic elements, while "undemocratic" suggests a system that does not adhere to democratic principles but may have some superficial democratic features.