devours me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devours me" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a feeling of being overwhelmed or consumed by something, often in an emotional or metaphorical sense. Example: "The fear of failure devours me, making it hard to take risks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This is not saying much because the most hallowed of all courses usually devours me whole.

Independent

By 1817, when he wrote his first letters to Pietro Giordani — a freethinking ex-monk who was his earliest friend and patron — Leopardi was already complaining of "the stubborn, black, horrendous, barbarous melancholy that wears away and devours me".

The New Yorker

I never thought I wanted it, this consummate need of children that devours me, sends me rigid with boredom and rage, sometimes, flattening me with a sense of failure and despair like no other, and also lifts me up like on wings with the euphoria of soaring, wondering happiness and love.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nearing death, she asks, "What ardor draws and devours me?

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"It has devoured me, as you can see," he says.

The New York Times - Arts

Will he devour me? -- and they shook him off.

The New York Times - Books

I needed stronger hits to keep the wound inside from rising up and devouring me.

The New Yorker

"By the time I got back to my camera," Karsh later recalled, "he looked so belligerent he could have devoured me".

The Guardian - Business

When the writer Maria Edgeworth read Milton's lines about Hell ("And in the lowest deep a lower deep / Still threatening to devour me opens wide"), she objected: How could the lowest deep open into a lower deep?

The New Yorker

Mikhael knew that Falciani was married, but she sensed that he was unhappy in his marriage, and he looked at her, she later said, as if he could "devour me with his eyes".

The New Yorker

"Sometimes I feel the past will eat me alive, will devour me in the same way that the now abundantly overgrown cedar bush is devouring the pioneer rail fences on which, as children, we used to stand in order to watch the Mexicans work.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devours me" to express a profound and often destructive impact, either physical or emotional. Reserve it for situations where the sense of being consumed is intense and overwhelming.

Common error

Avoid using "devours me" too frequently or in contexts where the impact is minor. Overuse can dilute its powerful imagery and make your writing seem melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devours me" primarily functions as a verb phrase where 'devours' is the transitive verb acting upon the pronoun 'me'. Ludwig AI indicates this structure is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devours me" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a sense of being overwhelmed or consumed. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, although its usage is relatively rare. It appears most often in news and media contexts, conveying strong emotions or the impact of destructive forces. While the phrase is generally acceptable, it's important to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse that might dilute its impact. Consider alternatives such as "consumes me" or "overwhelms me" depending on the desired nuance. Finally, authoritative sources like The New Yorker and The Guardian demonstrate its usage in varied contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consumes me

Indicates complete absorption or destruction, similar to "devours me" but potentially less violent.

overwhelms me

Focuses on the feeling of being overpowered or inundated, shifting the emphasis from destruction to capacity.

engulfs me

Suggests being completely surrounded and enveloped, similar to "devours me" in its totality but with a spatial connotation.

eats me alive

More vivid and figurative, intensifying the pain and ongoing nature of the consumption.

plagues me

Shifts the focus to a persistent and irritating affliction, implying suffering rather than total consumption.

haunts me

Implies a persistent and unsettling presence in one's thoughts or memories, differing from the physical implication of "devours me".

gnaws at me

Suggests a slow, persistent, and corrosive effect, differing from immediate or complete devouring.

torments me

Emphasizes suffering and mental anguish, deviating from the literal or figurative consumption.

weighs me down

Highlights the burden and oppressive effect, contrasting with the more active consumption suggested by "devours me".

crushes me

Suggests being overwhelmed and defeated by something, differing from the active consumption implied by "devours me".

FAQs

How can I use "devours me" in a sentence?

Use "devours me" to express being overwhelmed or consumed by something, either literally or figuratively. For example, "The guilt of my actions "devours me"."

What can I say instead of "devours me"?

You can use alternatives like "consumes me", "overwhelms me", or "eats me alive" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "devours me" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "devours me" is often more suitable for creative or emotive writing. In formal writing, consider more neutral alternatives like "affects me deeply" or "significantly impacts me".

What's the difference between "devours me" and "consumes me"?

"Devours me" suggests a more violent and destructive consumption, while "consumes me" implies a more complete absorption, though it can also carry negative connotations depending on context.