devoid of love

USAGE SUMMARY

"devoid of love" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that is lacking or missing love. For example: "The old abandoned house was devoid of love, with no one to show it tenderness for years".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

For a society that allows violence to perpetuate, is a society devoid of love, devoid of compassion, devoid of justice... Living in a peaceful, loving society with others requires us to set aside our own needs, our own wants, even...our own fears, for the purposes of ensuring our common security.

Huffington Post

The orphanage felt devoid of love.

The Guardian - Opinion

As the odd couple spin through small towns and boreens, the narrator unspools his chaotic childhood, revealing an upbringing devoid of love and sustenance.

The Guardian - Books

Ms. Stewart, who is about halfway through a five-month sentence for lying about a stock sale, urged readers to think about the women she has met in prison who are "devoid of care, devoid of love, devoid of family".

The New York Times

We feel nothing but pity for him, that his life was so devoid of love that his only way of finding meaning was to attack a defenceless woman who represented the best of our country in an act of supreme cowardice.

The Guardian

There they are, barely able to speak, trying to articulate the approaching void, face to face with the apocalypse, and even so, possessed by some final form of tenderness, some need for a helping hand in the darkness, some hope that if we are unknowable dust, that dust is, at least, not devoid of love.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

One of the reasons gratitude makes us happier is that it forces us to abandon a belief that may accompany severe depression that the world is devoid of goodness, love, and kindness, and is nothing but randomness and cruelty.

University of California, Berkeley

On a show full of faux romance, dedicated to stripping away the artifice of the fairy tale myth we buy into when we watch shows like "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette,"  one might make the mistake of thinking that "UnREAL" is devoid of true love.

Huffington Post

These books are, admittedly, not totally devoid of overblown love-swept monologues and endless accounts of rural scenery, but they are certainly not "wishy-washy", either.

The Guardian

Must be a reason I was so devoid of self-love, and allowing of what leads to self-loathing.

Huffington Post

A life devoid of the compassion, love and awe that I feel for nature must be a miserable one.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation or environment, consider using "devoid of love" to emphasize the emotional emptiness or lack of affection.

Common error

Avoid overusing "devoid of love" as a hyperbolic statement. It's best suited for describing situations genuinely lacking in affection, rather than minor disagreements or temporary frustrations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devoid of love" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a complete absence of love. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, supported by numerous examples of its application in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devoid of love" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to describe a state lacking affection, care, or emotional warmth. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and while it's not exceedingly common, it appears frequently enough to be considered an established expression, mainly in news, media, and scientific contexts. It's best used to accurately depict situations genuinely lacking in affection rather than for hyperbolic emphasis, as misinterpreting its scope is a frequent error. Related phrases like "lacking affection", "bereft of love", and "loveless" offer alternative ways to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

loveless

Describes a situation or environment lacking love.

bereft of love

A more formal and literary way to express the absence of love.

lacking affection

Focuses on the absence of outward expressions of love and caring.

devoid of warmth

Focuses on the absence of emotional warmth and connection.

without tenderness

Highlights the absence of gentle and caring feelings.

empty of love

Emphasizes the feeling of emptiness resulting from the absence of love.

without compassion

Highlights the lack of empathy and caring.

lacking empathy

Emphasizes the absence of understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

unloved

Describes the state of not receiving love.

incapable of love

Describes someone or something as unable to experience or give love.

FAQs

What does "devoid of love" mean?

"Devoid of love" means lacking or completely missing love. It describes a state or situation where there is no affection, care, or emotional connection present.

What can I say instead of "devoid of love"?

You can use alternatives like "lacking affection", "bereft of love", or "loveless" depending on the context.

How do you use "devoid of love" in a sentence?

You can use "devoid of love" to describe people, places, or situations. For example: "The orphanage felt "devoid of love"" or "His life seemed "devoid of love" after the loss of his family".

Is it better to say "lacking love" or "devoid of love"?

"Lacking love" and "devoid of love" are similar, but "devoid of love" suggests a more complete absence. "Lacking love" implies that some love might be present but insufficient.