genuine yearning

USAGE SUMMARY

"genuine yearning" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a strong or intense feeling of wanting or hoping for something. For example, "I felt a genuine yearning for a better future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Platitudinous these people may be, but there is a genuine yearning that emerges, despite itself, from their numbness.

The New York Times

But they're in the margins". To stay upbeat, you could call this a positive extrapolation about France's future, reflecting voters' genuine yearning that the cycle of French decline and political charade end soon.

The New York Times

His most recent album was produced by David Rawlings, the musical partner of Gillian Welch, and the stripped-down settings reveal the genuine yearning in songs about, among other things, a man's romance with his television set.

The New York Times

But Gambon has a bad habit of swallowing his words when he raises the volume, and what I missed in his performance, which I got from Robert Stephens, was a genuine yearning for a lost world of aristocratic values.

The Guardian

Mr. Yokose's misty, luminous seascapes spoof a certain style of hyper-romantic quasi-19th-century romance, yet his dreamy visions of pellucid waves rolling gently onto peaceful beaches under big, Turneresque skies -- sensuously painted in waxy glazes -- are not without a genuine yearning for some Edenic never-never-land (Johnson).

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Yokose's misty, luminous seascapes spoof a certain style of hyperromantic quasi-19th-century romance, yet his dreamy visions of pellucid waves rolling gently onto peaceful beaches under big, Turneresque skies -- sensuously painted in waxy glazes -- are not without a genuine yearning for some Edenic never-never land (Johnson).

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

That's too cynical, I think, because these Christmas fantasies embody a real yearning, a genuine sense of something lost.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

An installation in which a ship goes round and round, driven by a pivot arm balanced by a cartoon moneybag, represents the futility of materialism; smaller works spoof New Age therapy culture, like a picture of people dancing in silly cat suits, one exclaiming, "This is an excellent workshop!" Under the satiric surface, there's a genuine religious yearning (Johnson).

The New York Times - Arts

Yet the series is also laced with themes that align with the Putin state's view of revolution, especially in its current form: that such movements are rarely the product of genuine intent and yearning from the population but are rather the result of purposeful meddling and geopolitical intrigue, usually led by the West.

The New Yorker

It gives the best phone in the business, its staff so seemingly genuine in their yearning to accommodate you and their contrition when they can't that Danny Meyer, the restaurateur who insists on this flamboyant hospitality, must be giving them either Method acting classes or major pharmaceuticals.

The New York Times - Food

There's a genuine sense of yearning sentimentality at the heart of "Pretty Green Eyes", something that chimes with one of the primary identifiers of the British psyche: we're a bunch of moaners who revel in misery business.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "genuine yearning" with specific nouns to create evocative descriptions of internal states or desires. For example, "a genuine yearning for connection" or "a genuine yearning for the past".

Common error

While "yearning" effectively conveys strong emotion, avoid overuse in formal or technical writing. Alternatives like "desire", "aspiration", or "longing" might be more appropriate depending on the specific context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "genuine yearning" functions as a noun phrase, where "genuine" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "yearning". According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English to describe a strong or intense feeling.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Arts

20%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "genuine yearning" is a grammatically correct and emotionally resonant phrase used to express a deep and authentic longing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys a sense of heartfelt desire and sincerity. While not overly formal, it is most commonly found in news, arts, and lifestyle contexts. When writing, consider using related phrases like "authentic desire" or "sincere longing" for nuanced variations. Avoid overuse in highly formal or technical writing, and remember that "genuine yearning" implies a deeper emotional connection than a simple "strong desire".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfeigned longing

Highlights the genuineness and lack of artificiality in the longing.

sincere longing

Highlights the emotional depth and heartfelt nature of the longing.

authentic desire

Emphasizes the sincerity and truthfulness of the desire.

heartfelt craving

Highlights the emotional and deeply felt nature of the craving.

honest desire

Stresses the integrity and lack of pretense in the desire.

deep craving

Conveys a more intense and urgent sense of wanting.

real hunger

Implies a fundamental need or deep-seated lack that fuels the yearning.

true aspiration

Focuses on the ambition and goals that drive the yearning.

earnest wish

Focuses on the serious and heartfelt nature of the wish.

profound aspiration

Emphasizes the depth and significance of the aspiration.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "genuine yearning" in a sentence?

You can use "genuine yearning" to describe a strong desire for something authentic or deeply felt. For example, "She felt a "genuine yearning" for connection after years of isolation".

What are some alternatives to "genuine yearning" that I can use?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "authentic desire", "sincere longing", or "deep craving".

Is there a difference between "genuine yearning" and "strong desire"?

"Genuine yearning" implies a deeper, more emotional and heartfelt desire than a simple "strong desire". Yearning suggests a sense of longing and perhaps even a touch of sadness or nostalgia.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "genuine yearning"?

The phrase "genuine yearning" is appropriate in contexts where you want to convey a strong, authentic feeling of longing or desire, such as in literature, personal essays, or heartfelt conversations. Consider the emotional tone of your writing before using the phrase.