devoid of living

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devoid of living" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state or condition that lacks life or vitality, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The abandoned house stood in a desolate landscape, completely devoid of living creatures."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

These include a smallish canvas of this work's sparkling lakefront setting almost totally devoid of living things.

The New York Times - Arts

And slowly, grudgingly, the planet came to be seen as dead geologically and probably devoid of living things.

The New York Times - Science

Kathryn P. Sutherland, one of the paper's lead authors, refers to the problem as the "Elkhorn graveyards": standing coral skeletons devoid of living tissue that now stand in the waters off the Keys.

The New York Times

New visitors to Istanbul are often struck by the incongruity of a city that possesses such a rich heritage of Greek architectural remains and historical associations, but which today is almost totally devoid of living Greeks.

Johns Hopkins University

The infected rhizomorphs become devoid of living hyphae about one week after the initial infection.

Wikipedia

These three galls that were devoid of living aphids were excluded from further analyses.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Despite the intricate link between soil microbes and plants, many drying rewetting studies focusing on microbial community composition or activity have been performed on systems devoid of live plants, as incubations in soil alone or because plants died during the dry period preceding rewetting.

Nature

It must be recognized that although GF mice are devoid of live bacteria, food might contain autoclave-resistant microbial products, including pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which can induce host responses.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

None of us has the luxury of living our lives devoid of politics.

HuffPost

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

The New York Times - Arts

It, too, is a movie that converts images into physical sensations; it, too, is immersive (cameras are literally immersed); it, too, treats human participants like environmental furniture, devoid of inner lives, nonexistent apart from the task at hand.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devoid of living" to describe environments or conditions that lack any signs of life, especially when emphasizing a stark or desolate state. For example: "The landscape was entirely devoid of living things."

Common error

Avoid using "devoid of living" to describe abstract concepts like "devoid of happiness" or "devoid of meaning". While technically understandable, it is more appropriate to use "lacking" or "without" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devoid of living" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes something as lacking life. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "devoid of living" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that describes something as lacking life. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's less common than alternatives like "devoid of life" or simply "lifeless". Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it serves to emphasize a stark absence of living organisms. When writing, ensure you're describing entities that can realistically possess life, avoiding abstract misapplications. Similar phrases include "lacking life" and "bereft of life".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking life

This alternative directly replaces "devoid of living" with a more concise expression of the same concept.

bereft of life

This alternative uses a slightly more formal term, "bereft", to convey the absence of life.

without life

This alternative is a simple and direct way to express the absence of life.

lifeless

This is a single-word adjective that describes something that does not have life.

inanimate

This term emphasizes the lack of animation or movement associated with life.

non-living

A more technical and direct term, often used in scientific contexts to mean not alive.

exanimate

A formal and somewhat archaic term for lifeless.

destitute of life

Emphasizes the deprivation or absence of life.

empty of life

Highlights the emptiness and absence of life within a space or object.

deceased

This term specifically implies that something that was once alive is now dead.

FAQs

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

You can use "devoid of living" to describe a place, object, or environment that has no life forms present. For example, "The sterile lab was "devoid of living" organisms", or "The planet appeared "devoid of living" creatures".

What is a synonym for "devoid of living"?

Alternatives to "devoid of living" include "lacking life", "bereft of life", or simply "lifeless". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is "devoid of living" or "devoid of life"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "devoid of life" is more commonly used. "Devoid of living" is a valid alternative, especially when emphasizing a specific instance or type of living matter.

What does "devoid of living" imply about the environment?

The phrase "devoid of living" suggests an environment where life is absent, either due to natural conditions, artificial sterilization, or destruction. It emphasizes the complete absence of organisms.