drowned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drowned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone has died by submersion in water or metaphorically to describe being overwhelmed by emotions or situations. Example: "He felt as if he were drowned in a sea of despair after hearing the news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The facts about Australia consensus have been drowned out.

The Guardian

"You get more old photographs of fishermen than any other workers – they had them done to leave some record in case they drowned," she said.

The Guardian - Arts

Poroshenko joined in the chorus of one song, pumping his fist and shouting, "Glory to Ukraine!" The singers drowned out protesters who had gathered across the street, including one in a Russian scarf, accusing the Ukrainian president of ignoring atrocities against civilians in rebel-held cities.

The Guardian

A spike in the numbers of immigrants attempting the dangerous sea crossing from Libya has sparked alarm in Europe, particularly after about 800 people drowned in a Mediterranean shipwreck last month.

The Guardian

Updated at 11.43pm AEST Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 8.13pm AEST11:13 Romania has rescued us from Carl, the Norwegian, who drowned in his own pathos.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The roar of the Liberal crowd drowned Kevin Rudd's words: "A short time ago I telephoned Tony Abbott … " The victory party at the Four Seasons in Sydney erupted.

The Guardian

It was exactly a year ago, just a few days after more than 300 people drowned off the coast of Lampedusa, that Italy launched the Mare Nostrum (Our Sea) operation to ensure search and rescue of migrants between North Africa and southern Italy.

The Guardian - Opinion

Because I drowned in self-reproach every time I did or said something silly, which was often.

The Guardian

He did criticise Islamophobia, but that passing comment was drowned out by the drumbeat of condemnation targeted at Muslims and their political organisations.

The Guardian - Opinion

But if anyone was drowned out, it was the Greens' Natalie Bennett.

The Guardian - Opinion

As we risk being drowned in the din, and the demands of the attention economy creep upwards, we should spare a thought for the millions blogging, uploading and tweeting in the hope someone will notice.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drowned" metaphorically, ensure the context clearly relates to being overwhelmed or lost in something, such as "drowned in paperwork" or "drowned in sorrow".

Common error

Avoid using "drowned" to describe situations that involve simple disappearance or lack of visibility, unless there's a clear sense of being overwhelmed or suffocated. For example, instead of saying "the image was drowned by the dark", consider "obscured by the dark" or "hidden in the dark".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "drowned" is as a past participle of the verb "drown". Ludwig examples show it describing a state resulting from the action of drowning, either literally or metaphorically. It can also function as an adjective describing someone or something that has died by drowning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "drowned" is a versatile term primarily used as the past participle of the verb "drown", signifying the state of having died by submersion in liquid. However, it is also frequently employed metaphorically to describe being overwhelmed by emotions, situations, or other abstract entities. Ludwig AI confirms that the word is grammatically correct and widely used. Examples from Ludwig show its prevalence in news reporting, personal narratives, and even scientific contexts. While generally neutral in register, its use can become more formal in scientific or academic settings. When using "drowned", ensure the context accurately reflects the idea of being overwhelmed or fatally submerged.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

submerged

Replaces the literal act of drowning with a more general term for being underwater or covered.

engulfed

Suggests being completely surrounded and overwhelmed, similar to being drowned.

inundated

Implies being flooded or overwhelmed with a large quantity, either literally or figuratively.

overwhelmed

Focuses on the feeling of being burdened and unable to cope, similar to the emotional impact of being drowned.

swamped

Suggests being overloaded with tasks or responsibilities, a figurative form of being drowned.

awash

Describes something covered or filled with something else, like being drowned in it.

suffocated

Emphasizes the inability to breathe, highlighting a key aspect of drowning.

buried

Suggests being covered and hidden, akin to being drowned and lost.

obscured

Indicates something hidden or made unclear, as if drowned in darkness.

extinguished

Implies the end of something, like a life being ended by drowning.

FAQs

How is "drowned" used in a sentence?

"Drowned" can describe literal submersion in water, as in "He "drowned" in the lake". It can also be used metaphorically to describe being overwhelmed, like "The project was "drowned" in delays".

What can I say instead of "drowned" when describing being overwhelmed?

Alternatives to "drowned" when describing being overwhelmed include "overwhelmed", "inundated", or "engulfed" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "drowned by" or "drowned in"?

Both "drowned by" and "drowned in" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Drowned by" often implies an external force causing the submersion, while "drowned in" suggests being immersed or overwhelmed within something.

What is the difference between "drowned" and "submerged"?

"Submerged" simply means covered in water or another liquid, while "drowned" implies death by submersion. You can be submerged without drowning, but if you are "drowned", you were necessarily submerged.