driven by despair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "driven by despair" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a motivation or action that is influenced by feelings of hopelessness or sadness. Example: "The character in the novel was driven by despair, leading him to make choices that ultimately changed his life forever."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Among commentators on the right, the reaction has been less driven by despair than by anger.

The New York Times

For outsiders, meanwhile, large parts of the city are unsafe, even by day.Increasingly, the violence is also driven by despair.

The Economist

Driven by despair at the abuse, especially the political abuse, of language, at the distortions that result when words are permitted to drift away from the world, Oppen's poetry proceeds almost literally one by one; very short lines placing words with the kind of deliberation and care that he felt was necessary if they were to communicate truth.

The Guardian - Books

He may have Alzheimer's but it is clear that his death wish is driven by despair over revolutionary failure: as a union man, he fought for a guaranteed annual income for longshoremen only to find it never achieved the radical change he longed for.

The Guardian

The focus of media, policy and research on irregular migration, smuggling, trafficking and the high death toll amongst trans-Mediterranean 'boat migrants' reinforce the impression that African migration is essentially directed towards Europe and driven by despair.

Comparative Migration Studies

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

All the others were apparently driven by economic despair.

The New York Times

Leonard, Block and their colleagues are being driven by their despair at what their sport has become.

The Guardian - Sport

The further challenge for Trump is this: as abhorrent as the use of political violence may be, it is ultimately driven by political despair.

The Washington Post

But the new work makes clear that guns' worldwide death toll actually is driven by personal despair, interpersonal conflict and carelessness.

Los Angeles Times

The Post even trivialized Manning's motive for leaking the material, suggesting that he was driven by his despair, thinking "that by sharing classified information about his government's foreign policy, he might 'actually change something.'".

Huffington Post

I spoke about this with a senior government minister, Vincent Meriton, who saw the root cause of piracy in the fact that Somalia has virtually no effective government, and who argued that unless order is restored to Somalia with international help, the pirates — driven by poverty and despair — cannot be eradicated.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "driven by despair", ensure the context clearly establishes the source and intensity of the despair. The phrase is most impactful when the despair is a direct and understandable consequence of preceding events.

Common error

Avoid using "driven by despair" in contexts where the despair seems exaggerated or unsupported by the situation. Overusing the phrase can weaken its impact and make the writing seem insincere.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "driven by despair" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of being or motivation. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in diverse contexts, showcasing how hopelessness can compel certain actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "driven by despair" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English that conveys actions or motivations fueled by profound hopelessness. Ludwig AI analysis validates its use across various domains, especially in news and scientific contexts. While not overly common, its impact is significant when used appropriately. Writers should, however, be cautious about overusing it or applying it to situations where the level of despair seems exaggerated. Alternatives like "motivated by desperation" or "compelled by hopelessness" can provide nuanced alternatives based on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

motivated by desperation

Replaces "despair" with "desperation", emphasizing a sense of urgency and last resort.

compelled by hopelessness

Substitutes "driven" with "compelled" and "despair" with "hopelessness", highlighting the lack of positive outlook.

actuated by anguish

Uses "actuated" instead of "driven" and "anguish" in place of "despair", conveying deep suffering.

prompted by desperation

Emphasizes the role of desperation in initiating an action.

incited by hopelessness

Suggests that hopelessness sparked the action.

fueled by anguish

Implies that anguish provided the energy for the action.

inspired by despondency

Shifts the focus to the emotional state of despondency as the inspiring factor.

moved by profound sadness

Replaces "despair" with a more general "profound sadness", broadening the emotional scope.

led by utter discouragement

Focuses on discouragement as the guiding force.

pushed by overwhelming grief

Highlights the intensity of grief as the primary motivator.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "driven by despair"?

To be "driven by despair" means that your actions or decisions are strongly influenced by feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or a sense that things will never improve. It suggests a lack of positive alternatives and a sense of being overwhelmed by negative emotions.

How can I use "driven by despair" in a sentence?

You can use "driven by despair" to describe someone's motivation for doing something, for example: "Driven by despair, he made a series of increasingly reckless decisions."

What are some alternatives to saying "driven by despair"?

Some alternatives to "driven by despair" include "motivated by desperation", "compelled by hopelessness", or "actuated by anguish". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "driven by despair" a formal or informal expression?

"Driven by despair" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it's more commonly found in literature, news reports, and academic analyses rather than casual conversation. Choose your wording based on your audience and the tone of the piece. If in doubt about the best word choice, you can use alternatives like "led by utter discouragement".