driven by hubris

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "driven by hubris" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or decisions that are motivated by excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to negative consequences. Example: "His downfall was largely due to decisions driven by hubris, as he underestimated the challenges ahead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Driven by hubris, he agitated abroad and exacerbated racial tension within Libya.

The Guardian - Opinion

A decade ago, some media owners, driven by hubris, thought combining content and distribution under one corporate roof was enough.

The New York Times - Tech

Commentators call Musharraf's decision to return home politically naive, driven by hubris and desire for validation by the voters.

The Washington Post

It is perhaps easy to view Reeve's quest as one driven by hubris; it is far from certain that he will walk again.

The New Yorker

"What he did was unforgivable and clumsy, in my view," said one, "and could only have been driven by hubris". Throughout 2006 and 2007, Gorman wrote a series of articles critical of NSA's management of major programs, citing multiple sources.

The Washington Post

Whether driven by hubris or marketing intended to induce shock and awe, many of the nation's most expensive homes featured in Hot Property have had price tags that defy explanation.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Leaders who demonstrated styles running the gauntlet from self-aggrandizing, dishonesty and lacking in integrity, through to scheming, duplicitous and backstabbing behavior all underscored and driven by narcissism, hubris and ego.

Huffington Post

Two new public relations positions with salaries of $135,000 per year, plus generous benefits, along with several other new positions with similarly generous salaries; high-priced lawyers, including some at $495 per hour, adding up to more than $1.7 million in seven months and counting, much of it spent on unnecessary and unsuccessful litigation driven by council hubris and errors.

Los Angeles Times

Executives who have presided over their institutions like personal fiefdoms driven by ego and hubris have turned out to be architects of their firms' downfall.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet Sosa, the ex-Cubs slugger, does resemble diehard Cubs fan Blagojevich in that they're egomaniacal fellow travelers driven by self-delusional hubris, two narcissists still convinced it's their world and everyone else is along to watch and enjoy the ride.

The New York Times

Much of the billionaires' schools agenda is driven by ideology and hubris.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "driven by hubris" with specific examples of actions or decisions to illustrate the consequences of excessive pride for more impact.

Common error

Avoid using "driven by hubris" when describing simple ambition or determination. "Hubris" implies an arrogance that leads to a fall, not just a strong desire for success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "driven by hubris" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing the underlying motivation behind actions or decisions. As Ludwig AI suggests, it attributes actions to excessive pride and self-confidence, often with negative consequences. This can be observed across various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "driven by hubris" is a potent phrase used to describe actions motivated by excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in formal writing. It's particularly relevant when analyzing situations where arrogance leads to downfall, distinguishing it from mere ambition. While suitable for news and analytical contexts, it's less common in casual conversation. Understanding the nuances of "driven by hubris" can significantly enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

motivated by arrogance

Replaces "hubris" with "arrogance", emphasizing a sense of superiority.

fueled by excessive pride

Substitutes "driven" with "fueled" and "hubris" with "excessive pride", highlighting the strong influence of pride.

prompted by overconfidence

Uses "prompted" instead of "driven" and "overconfidence" in place of "hubris", focusing on the excessive belief in one's abilities.

resulting from inflated ego

Shifts the structure to emphasize the consequence of an "inflated ego", replacing "driven by" with "resulting from".

incited by vanity

Replaces "hubris" with "vanity", highlighting the excessive admiration of one's own appearance or achievements.

caused by presumption

Focuses on the assumption of entitlement or unwarranted confidence as the cause, using "presumption" instead of "hubris".

born of haughtiness

Emphasizes the arrogance and disdain associated with "haughtiness", replacing "driven by hubris" with "born of haughtiness".

stemming from conceit

Uses "conceit" to highlight the excessive pride in oneself, with "stemming from" replacing "driven by".

spurred by self-importance

Highlights the exaggerated sense of one's own significance with "self-importance", using "spurred by" instead of "driven by".

under the influence of egotism

Rephrases to emphasize the controlling force of "egotism" or excessive self-centeredness.

FAQs

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

You can use "driven by hubris" to describe actions or decisions motivated by excessive pride, often leading to negative consequences. For example: "His downfall was "driven by hubris", as he underestimated the challenges ahead."

What's the difference between "driven by hubris" and "motivated by ambition"?

"Driven by hubris" implies excessive pride and arrogance that leads to downfall, while "motivated by ambition" simply indicates a strong desire to achieve success. Hubris carries a negative connotation absent in ambition.

What are some synonyms for "driven by hubris"?

Alternatives include "motivated by arrogance", "fueled by excessive pride", or "prompted by overconfidence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "driven by hubris" in formal writing?

Yes, "driven by hubris" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when analyzing historical events, literature, or business decisions where excessive pride played a significant role.