devoid of opportunities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devoid of opportunities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, place, or context where there are no chances or possibilities for advancement or success. Example: "The small town felt devoid of opportunities, leaving many residents seeking jobs elsewhere."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And in Williamsburg, "this was an area that was devoid of opportunities for beer," he said.

The New York Times

This can be partially attributed to our twice-yearly companywide retreats, which mean no one is devoid of opportunities to connect.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The latter novel looks at disaffection from the perspective of an excluded new underclass of youth, debt-shackled and devoid of opportunity.

The Guardian - Books

Many people feel they are in similarly helpless situations: stuck in jobs they don't like, powerless to improve things, devoid of opportunity.

Harvard Business Review

This minority of young people who are otherwise unable to cope have very few positive role models in schools and for them all the evidence points to a future devoid of opportunity and hope.

The Guardian - Opinion

"That's the real violence," as Jesse Jackson put it: when children live in neighborhoods devoid of opportunity, under an assumption of guilt which robs them of the presumption of innocence and dims their view of what may be possible in their world and their lives.

The Guardian - Opinion

Devoid of opportunity, they sell themselves – or their children – without fully understanding the debt bondage and slave-like conditions they will end up in.

Vice

To others, he's an inspiration who showed them the beauty of art in a place devoid of opportunity or hope.

Los Angeles Times

Entrepreneurship has become a means of rehabilitation; organizations like Breathing Space, Defy Ventures and NFTE liberate at-risk youth and adults devoid of opportunity by teaching them business concepts, and facilitating their paths to success.

Huffington Post

A sense of community responsibility is firmly rooted at Millwall, born out of an awareness that many of those residing in the club's catchment areas are devoid of the opportunities on offer elsewhere.

The Guardian - Sport

The Panthers, it becomes clear, are central to the morale and identity of the local citizenry in a town so apparently devoid of cultural opportunities that, by contrast, Peyton Place resembles Periclean Athens at its zenith.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "devoid of opportunities", ensure that the context clearly indicates what type of opportunities are missing and why their absence is significant. For instance, specify whether it refers to career prospects, educational advancements, or personal growth avenues.

Common error

Avoid using "devoid of opportunities" in situations where there are merely limited or challenging opportunities. The phrase implies a complete absence, so reserve it for scenarios where chances are truly nonexistent to prevent exaggerating the situation.

Linguistic Context

Adjective phrase functioning as a descriptive modifier. The phrase "devoid of opportunities" describes a noun, indicating a state of lacking or being without opportunities. Ludwig AI confirms this through examples where it modifies places, situations, or environments.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devoid of opportunities" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe situations completely lacking chances or possibilities. While not extremely common, as indicated by Ludwig, it's recognized and employed across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as a descriptive modifier, conveying a strong sense of absence. When employing this phrase, ensure the context justifies the complete lack of opportunities and that the phrasing aligns with the overall tone and formality required. Alternatives like "lacking opportunities" or "bereft of opportunities" may offer nuanced variations in meaning or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking opportunities

Focuses on the absence of opportunities without necessarily implying complete emptiness.

bereft of opportunities

Emphasizes a sense of loss or deprivation of opportunities.

without opportunities

A more straightforward and direct way of stating the absence of opportunities.

opportunity-less

A concise, though less common, way to express the absence of opportunities.

devoid of prospects

Highlights the absence of potential future success or advancement.

wanting in opportunities

Suggests a deficiency or inadequacy in the availability of opportunities.

empty of opportunities

Conveys a sense of hollowness or emptiness regarding the availability of opportunities.

destitute of opportunities

Implies a severe lack or poverty of opportunities.

deficient in opportunities

Similar to "wanting in", emphasizing a lack or shortage of opportunities.

an absence of opportunities

Uses a noun phrase to highlight the non-existence of opportunities.

FAQs

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

You can use "devoid of opportunities" to describe a place, situation, or environment lacking possibilities for progress or advancement. For example: "The abandoned town was "devoid of opportunities" for young people."

What is a more formal way to say "devoid of opportunities"?

A more formal way to express "devoid of opportunities" could be "lacking in opportunities" or "bereft of opportunities". These alternatives /s/lacking+in+opportunities and /s/bereft+of+opportunities maintain a similar meaning while sounding more sophisticated.

Which is correct: "devoid of opportunities" or "devoid with opportunities"?

"Devoid of opportunities" is the correct phrase. "Devoid" requires the preposition "of" to indicate what is missing. "Devoid with opportunities" is grammatically incorrect.

What are some situations where something might be described as "devoid of opportunities"?

A struggling rural community, a restrictive social environment, or an outdated educational system might be described as "devoid of opportunities". It indicates a severe lack of prospects for improvement or success in that specific context.