devoid of motivation

USAGE SUMMARY

"devoid of motivation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone or something that is lacking drive or ambition. For example, "After several days of hard work, the team was completely devoid of motivation and could not find the energy to finish the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If the group leaders are devoid of motivation and organization, the volunteers may be uninspired to participate and will quickly quit out of disappointment and frustration.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Disjointed; limited; devoid of useful ideas.

HuffPost

We like to think of grief as a "pure" act of expression devoid of any paid motivation, but this is not always so.

Forbes

White supremacists and Neo-Nazis were villains devoid of all but the most basic motivations for their morbid crimes.

Vice

While these non-profit projects have a modest societal impact, they were devoid of for-profit business models — and financial motivation — needed to scale them up.

Harvard Business Review

Letter of Motivation.

Science Magazine

Lack of motivation?

WikiHow

The motivation was fear induced and devoid of a plan.

HuffPost

Whereas Cameron quashed the disturbances as "pure criminality", devoid of any political meaning, there was evidently some shared motivation, cause or desire for the actions that followed.

The Guardian

Motivation: Retrocopies are copies of mature RNAs that are usually devoid of regulatory sequences and introns.

Bioinformatics

The problem with those who are devoid of empathy is that, although they may recognize what's right, they have no motivation to act upon it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devoid of motivation" when you want to emphasize a complete absence of any driving force or incentive, particularly in situations where motivation would normally be expected.

Common error

Avoid using "devoid of motivation" excessively in highly formal or business writing. While grammatically correct, consider more nuanced alternatives like "lacking incentive" or "unmotivated" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devoid of motivation" functions as an adjectival phrase. It modifies a noun, describing it as lacking any motivation. Ludwig AI confirms that it's correct and usable. The phrase describes a state of being without any driving force or incentive.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devoid of motivation" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the absence of drive or incentive. Ludwig AI confirms this. While the phrase is considered neutral in register, it is more common in news and general writing than in academic or highly formal contexts. When writing, consider whether a more nuanced alternative like "lacking incentive" or "unmotivated" might be more appropriate, especially for formal or business communications. Be mindful that it is a rather strong way to define that lack of incentive, but it is a correct and widely used expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking motivation

Focuses on the absence of motivation, similar to the original phrase.

unmotivated

A single-word adjective conveying the same meaning.

without incentive

Highlights the absence of something that encourages action.

lacking drive

Emphasizes the absence of ambition and energy.

uninspired

Indicates a lack of creative or enthusiastic impulse.

apathetic

Describes a state of indifference and lack of concern.

without purpose

Focuses on the absence of a clear aim or intention.

dispirited

Suggests a loss of enthusiasm and hope.

deflated

Implies a reduction in confidence or enthusiasm.

lacking ambition

Highlights the absence of a strong desire for success.

FAQs

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

You can use "devoid of motivation" to describe a person, team, or even an organization that lacks any driving force or incentive. For example: "After the project's failure, the team became "devoid of motivation"."

What's a more formal alternative to "devoid of motivation"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "lacking incentive" or "unmotivated" to maintain a professional tone.

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

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "lacking motivation" might sound slightly less severe. "Devoid" suggests a complete absence, while "lacking" implies a deficiency.

What is the difference between "devoid of purpose" and "devoid of motivation"?

"Devoid of purpose" refers to lacking a clear aim or intention, while "devoid of motivation" indicates a lack of the driving force or incentive to achieve something. They describe different kinds of absence.