empty pride

USAGE SUMMARY

"empty pride" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a sense of pride that lacks substance or genuine achievement. For example, "His empty pride prevented him from acknowledging his mistakes." Alternative expressions include "hollow pride" and "vain pride."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Learn to live with the insult, swallow the empty pride, stop feeding the fire of our pitiful arrogance still left in us with more and more of our young soldiers dying.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In French, surviving evokes mainly a feeling of loss and trauma due to a catastrophic event, and the word "survivant" in French is rather empty of pride or honor.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

I left that kitchen with my tummy still empty, but my pride (and self-righteousness) in tact.

Vice

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. — With the announcement that Cory A. Booker would speak in five minutes, a crowd flooded the largely empty lawn at the gay pride celebration here over the weekend.

The New York Times

While expressing regret at Christianity's demise, they nonetheless insist they would leap at any opportunity to leave.At Mar Mitta, Father Adda, staring out over the empty monastery courtyard, speaks with pride of the burgeoning Syrian Orthodox dioceses in America, Europe and Australia.

The Economist

This year, Sister Ana aims to turn the center into a cooperative, controlled by a board of canners empowered by pride and castoff empties that don't belong in the garbage.

The New York Times

I submitted my paper without any pride that day, feeling empty, exploited, and robbed of my work".

Science Magazine

There is also the pang of the empty nest, that mixture of grief and pride that is the special anguish of modern parents.

The New York Times

Their music was delightful, imperfectly performed but richly harmonic, deep-voiced and thrumming like a pride of bullfrogs along the empty stone corridor.

The New York Times - Travel

That was the third-highest behind promoted Southampton and West Ham, but still meant that on average Pride Park had nearly 7,000 empty seats at every game.

BBC

My backpack is almost empty and my heart is filled with pride.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context carefully when using "empty pride". Ensure that the surrounding text clearly establishes the lack of substance or justification for the pride being described.

Common error

Avoid using "empty pride" when you mean genuine self-respect or confidence based on real accomplishments. The phrase carries a negative connotation of superficiality and delusion, which is inappropriate for describing deserved feelings of self-worth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "empty pride" functions as a noun phrase, where "empty" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "pride". It typically serves to describe a particular kind of pride - one that lacks substance or justification. Ludwig confirms this understanding.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "empty pride" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a feeling of pride that is unwarranted or superficial. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a noun phrase. It is commonly found in news and media contexts, often serving to critique or devalue a sense of pride lacking substance. When writing, it's important to differentiate "empty pride" from genuine self-esteem and to ensure the context clearly establishes the lack of justification for the pride being described. Related terms include "hollow arrogance" and "vain conceit", each carrying slightly different nuances. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hollow arrogance

Replaces pride with arrogance, emphasizing a sense of inflated self-importance that lacks substance.

vain conceit

Substitutes pride with conceit, highlighting excessive admiration of one's own qualities.

unfounded hubris

Replaces pride with hubris, suggesting an overbearing presumption and exaggerated self-confidence.

illusory self-esteem

Changes pride to self-esteem to reflect the false nature of the positive self-image.

false sense of accomplishment

Focuses on the lack of genuine achievement underlying the feeling of pride.

meaningless self-importance

Emphasizes the lack of significance or value in the feeling of pride.

hollow sense of worth

Highlights that the pride is based on something without real value or meaning.

groundless self-satisfaction

Indicates that the pride is not based on any legitimate reason.

unjustified self-admiration

Focuses on the lack of a valid reason for admiring oneself.

superficial ego

Indicates the ego or sense of self is not based on any real attributes.

FAQs

How can I use "empty pride" in a sentence?

You can use "empty pride" to describe someone who is proud of something that isn't truly valuable or earned, such as "His "empty pride" in his family's wealth blinded him to his own lack of accomplishments".

What's a good synonym for "empty pride"?

Alternatives include "hollow pride", "vain conceit", or "unfounded arrogance". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever appropriate to feel "empty pride"?

Generally, "empty pride" is considered a negative trait, as it suggests a disconnect from reality and a focus on superficial values. It's usually better to cultivate genuine self-esteem based on real achievements and qualities.

What is the difference between "empty pride" and arrogance?

"Empty pride" refers to a feeling of satisfaction in something without real substance, while arrogance is the outward display of a belief in one's own superiority. Arrogance is more about behavior, and "empty pride" is more about the internal feeling.