dominating thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dominating thought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a prevailing idea or mindset that influences someone's thinking or behavior. Example: "Her dominating thought was that success was the only option, driving her to work tirelessly towards her goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is the new way of thinking make it a dominating thought.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Why is it that women are dominating the thought leadership space so much?

Huffington Post

As Max H. Bazerman and Ann E. Tenbrunsel write in their book, "Blind Spots," "When it comes time to make a decision, our thoughts are dominated by thoughts of how we want to behave; thoughts of how we should behave disappear".

The New York Times

Now gas is dominating the thoughts of Western oil bosses and, increasingly, their firms' portfolios.

The Economist

It's clear what was dominating her thoughts in the moment of her victory.

The Guardian - Opinion

We asked our readers living within the constituency what was dominating their thoughts as they prepared to vote.

The Guardian

A diplomatic response but one which reflects his mindset; for all Liverani's history, immediate ambitions at Brisbane Road are clearly dominating his thoughts.

The Guardian - Sport

Such topics are, of course, unlikely to be dominating the thoughts of an excited nation in the approach to a World Cup semi-final with Uruguay.

The Guardian - Sport

With the bank-holiday downpour still dominating the thoughts of tens of thousands of tourists and celebrating monarchists, the forecast for cloudless skies last night was enough to cheer up Chris Whittington, from Hornchurch, Essex.

Independent

One day, I took the advice, given to me a long time ago, by my English teacher at school: "If something is dominating your thoughts, write it out of your system".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, Kenny, who has won three silvers and two bronzes at the Worlds, admits the Championships were dominating his thoughts with the 2016 Rio Olympics still three years away.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dominating thought" when you want to convey that a specific idea or concern is controlling or significantly influencing someone's mind or actions. It is effective in describing a mindset that is difficult to shake.

Common error

Avoid using "dominating thought" in highly formal or academic writing where a more precise or nuanced term might be appropriate. Consider alternatives like "prevailing theory" or "central concept" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dominating thought" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It denotes a key idea or concern that exerts significant influence over someone's thinking process. As Ludwig AI explains, this emphasizes the controlling aspect of a prevailing idea.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dominating thought" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that signifies a prevailing idea that controls one's thinking. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is grammatically correct. It is relatively rare, but found in credible sources such as Huffington Post and The Guardian. "Dominating thought" works best when describing a mindset that is hard to shake off. Alternatives include "overriding idea" or "prevailing notion", depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overriding idea

Focuses on the idea's superior importance, not necessarily its control.

prevailing notion

Highlights the widespread acceptance of the idea.

central concept

Emphasizes the idea's core position within a larger framework.

reigning belief

Stresses the idea's current popularity and influence.

chief consideration

Underlines the idea's importance when making decisions.

principal theme

Indicates the idea's role as a recurring element.

primary concern

Focuses on the idea as a cause of worry or attention.

core principle

Highlights the idea's fundamental nature and guiding function.

mainstream thought

Refers to ideas that are commonly accepted and followed.

ruling paradigm

Suggests the idea functions as a dominant model or framework.

FAQs

How can I use "dominating thought" in a sentence?

You can use "dominating thought" to describe an idea that controls someone's thinking, like: "Her "dominating thought" was that success was the only option."

What is another way to say "dominating thought"?

Alternatives to "dominating thought" include "overriding idea", "prevailing notion", or "central concept".

Is it appropriate to use "dominating thought" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "dominating thought" may be too informal for academic writing. Consider using more precise terms like "prevailing theory" or "central concept" depending on the context.

What distinguishes "dominating thought" from "mainstream thought"?

"Dominating thought" refers to an idea that controls someone's mind, while "mainstream thought" refers to ideas that are commonly accepted by the majority.