devoid of reality

USAGE SUMMARY

'devoid of reality' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it when referring to something that has no basis in reality, or to describe something that is not rooted in reality. For example, "The world my protagonist creates in his story is completely devoid of reality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

We're not devoid of reality.

The Guardian

It is an interesting sentiment, laced with some romanticism, but devoid of reality".

The New Yorker

This outrageous cliché was no longer issued to them from above; it was a self-fabricated stock phrase, as devoid of reality as those clichés by which the people had lived for twelve years.

The New Yorker

The argument, however, that Duns Scotus provides for his position, namely the observation that if 'being' and 'one' were essentially convertible, then multitude would be devoid of reality, is loyal to a major inspiration of Aquinas' reflection on transcendental unity.

SEP

That is to say, although only God, God's thoughts, and the perceptible individuals exist in the strong sense as subsistences, all types of genera are beings; they may be beings in a different sense, but they all are beings and not constructions of our mind devoid of reality.

SEP

Those who rely on arguments such as the first two above to infer that relations are entirely devoid of reality are guilty of assigning relations too little reality; those who appeal to arguments such as the last two, showing that relations are distinct from their subjects in the way in which things are distinct from each other, assign too great a degree of reality to relations.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

A decade that began with the "reality" television craze exemplified by "American Idol" and "Survivor" — both blissfully devoid of any reality whatsoever — spiraled into a wholesale flight from truth.

The New York Times

As a result, long-distance relationships usually exist in a suspended "honeymoon state," where everything is shiny and happy but devoid of the reality that is necessary to determine if the relationship will ultimately sink or swim.

HuffPost

If put together too rapidly, checklists can be excessively lengthy, ambiguous, devoid of clinical reality and insensitive to the needs of front-line users.

BMJ Quality and Safety

Tsongkhapa makes it abundantly clear that in his view not only is the intellectual act itself utterly devoid of any essential reality, even the sense-faculties (the complex eye, ear and so on) also lack any essential reality, never mind the sense data they convey to the knowing individual.

SEP

Urban informality challenges the formalisation of the current design and planning processes that, based on abstract techniques and theories, create a system devoid of contact with reality.

City, Territory and Architecture

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devoid of reality" when you want to emphasize a complete lack of connection to the real world, often to critique or dismiss something as unrealistic or impractical.

Common error

Avoid using "devoid of reality" when you simply mean something lacks detail or specifics. "Devoid of detail" is more appropriate when describing a lack of specific information.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "devoid of reality" is to act as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes something as lacking a connection to or foundation in the real world. Ludwig's examples show it's used to criticize ideas or situations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devoid of reality" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase, denoting a complete absence of realism or connection to the real world. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, particularly in news, media, science, and encyclopedic sources. When writing, ensure that "devoid of reality" accurately reflects the intended meaning and is not simply used as a substitute for "devoid of detail". Semantically similar phrases, such as "divorced from reality" or "lacking a basis in reality", can offer nuanced alternatives, providing writers with flexibility in their expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Divorced from reality

Emphasizes a separation or disconnect from the real world, similar to "devoid of reality".

Lacking a basis in reality

Directly indicates that something does not have a foundation in the real world.

Untethered to reality

Highlights the lack of connection or grounding in reality.

Unrealistic

A more direct and simple way of saying "not realistic".

Without foundation

Emphasizes the lack of a solid or factual basis.

Lacking substance

Focuses on the absence of depth or meaningful content, rather than a direct disconnection from reality.

Imaginary

Indicates that something exists only in the imagination and not in the real world.

Pure fantasy

Highlights that something is entirely based on imagination and not grounded in reality.

Far-fetched

Implies that something is unlikely or improbable, straying from what is realistic.

Out of touch

Suggests a lack of awareness or understanding of current realities.

FAQs

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

You can use "devoid of reality" to describe ideas, plans, or statements that are not based on facts or real-world conditions. For example, "His political promises were completely devoid of reality."

What's the difference between "unrealistic" and "devoid of reality"?

"Unrealistic" means something is unlikely to happen or succeed, while "devoid of reality" implies a complete absence of connection to the real world. Something can be unrealistic but still somewhat based in reality, whereas something "devoid of reality" has no basis in fact.

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

You can use alternatives like "divorced from reality", "lacking a basis in reality", or "unrealistic" depending on the specific context.

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

Yes, "devoid of reality" is suitable for formal writing as long as the context calls for a strong expression of something lacking connection to the real world. Be mindful of your tone and audience.