implicit desire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "implicit desire" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a wish or longing that is not explicitly stated or acknowledged, often in psychological or literary contexts. Example: "Her implicit desire for freedom was evident in her poetry, even if she never spoke of it directly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Their murkiness is somewhat sinister, frustrating the eyes' implicit desire to see and understand.

The New York Times - Arts

Their implicit desire is to split the United States and Europeans on the issue.

The New York Times

Critics of school prayer said the court had deliberately repudiated the Supreme Court's implicit desire for a new opinion.

The New York Times

Ironically, then, the majority's implicit desire to support higher education is ill served by allowing unrestricted copying of coursepacks by copyshops.

Stanford University

The fantasy is pervasive: she suggests that GamerGaters, old-school cultural gatekeepers, ludologist hard-liners, and people on the subway are all alike in their implicit desire to imagine games as an otherworld, a playground separate from wider cultural forces.

The New Yorker

Likewise, chortling at a grammatically challenged friend whom you may have put on a pedestal by warrant of their intelligence is surely a sign – albeit a subtle one – of our implicit desire for others to fail, or to look daft, lest we one day have to experience the same fate and feel like we're the only ones exposed to such dismal humiliation.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The analysis shows how different syntactic constructions allow speakers to foreground either themselves or their would-be recipients: speakers can display agency in initiating offers of assistance, or they can expose the implicit desires of others.

Journal of Pragmatics

This is the power of the horizontal line -- knowing both the explicit and implicit desires of consumers.

Forbes

The data your searches deliver will recognize your implicit desires and present you with explicit options to bring your ideas to life.

Forbes

Facebook, through my history, my chronicling of events via posts, my likes or comments on things I see in my feed, and even through how long I pause to look at people I used to know in high school, knows my deepest and darkest implicit desires.

Forbes

When the horizontal is connected end-to-end, when a platform of discovery is created that fuses implicit commercial desires with explicit commercial activity, then Pandora's box will effectively be left open, and Amazon and others won't know what hit them.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "implicit desire", ensure the context provides enough clues for the reader to infer the unstated wish or longing. The subtlety of the phrase works best when the desire is strongly suggested but never explicitly mentioned.

Common error

Avoid using "implicit desire" when the longing is already obvious or explicitly stated. The power of the phrase lies in its subtlety; stating the desire outright negates its implicit quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "implicit desire" functions as a noun phrase, where "implicit" modifies the noun "desire". Ludwig AI confirms its usability and proper grammatical structure. The adjective "implicit" indicates that the desire is not openly expressed or directly stated, but rather implied or understood from context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "implicit desire" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that suggests an unspoken or underlying want. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly acceptable in English writing. Its usage spans across various contexts, notably in news, scientific and academic domains. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context sufficiently hints at the desire without explicitly stating it. Alternatives such as "unstated longing" or "tacit yearning" can provide nuanced ways to express similar sentiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unstated longing

Replaces "desire" with "longing", suggesting a yearning that is not openly expressed. It highlights a more emotional aspect than "implicit desire".

tacit yearning

Uses "tacit" instead of "implicit", emphasizing an unspoken understanding, and "yearning" to convey a deep longing.

subconscious wish

Replaces "implicit" with "subconscious", suggesting a desire that may not be fully conscious. It uses "wish" to imply something that is hoped for.

hidden craving

Emphasizes the concealed nature of the desire with "hidden" and uses "craving" to suggest a powerful, almost addictive want.

unspoken aspiration

Replaces "desire" with "aspiration", implying a more ambitious and long-term goal that remains unexpressed. "Unspoken" makes it similar to "implicit".

underlying motive

Shifts the focus from desire to motivation, implying a reason for action that is not explicitly stated. It is subtle difference of meaning.

latent longing

Uses "latent" to mean existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed, and "longing" to convey a deep yearning.

unavowed need

Uses "unavowed" to express something not openly acknowledged or declared and replace desire with "need".

secret ambition

Suggests a private and closely guarded desire for achievement. Shifts the meaning to something strictly private.

veiled intention

Conveys a desire that is concealed or disguised, often implying a strategic or manipulative element. Focus on intention instead of the emotion in "desire".

FAQs

How can I use "implicit desire" in a sentence?

Use "implicit desire" to describe a want or longing that is not openly expressed, but is subtly suggested through actions, expressions, or context. For example, "Her constant volunteering revealed an implicit desire to help others."

What phrases are similar to "implicit desire"?

Alternatives to "implicit desire" include "unstated longing", "tacit yearning", or "subconscious wish", each emphasizing different aspects of unspoken longing.

What is the difference between "implicit desire" and "explicit desire"?

"Implicit desire" refers to a longing that is not openly expressed, while "explicit desire" indicates a want that is clearly and directly stated. The former is suggested, the latter is declared.

Is it redundant to use "implicit desire" if the context already suggests a longing?

Yes, using "implicit desire" can be redundant if the longing is already obvious. The phrase is most effective when the desire is subtly suggested but not explicitly stated.