in the face of despair

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the face of despair" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone must continue to act bravely and optimistically in the face of a difficult situation: "In the face of despair, they refused to give up hope and continued their fight for justice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Both of them could be hopeful in the face of despair and hopelessness.

The New York Times

Written for seven actors, For Colored Girls is a group of 20 poems on the power of black women to survive in the face of despair and pain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Here McCarthy's The Road shines, from moral dilemmas around helping others to the challenge of keeping hope alive in the face of despair.

The Guardian - Books

He said the congresswoman and her husband had "taught us the true meaning of hope in the face of despair" and "determination in the face of incredible odds".

The Guardian

Even though you know the men and the union will ultimately prevail, you cannot help being moved by their unity and humanity in the face of despair.

The New York Times - Arts

"And that in the face of despair and hate we must continue to fight, we must continue to strive for the nation that we know we can be, the state we know we can be".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

There is the story of Sister Anthony, raped as a girl by her father, who then coaches her to be strong in the face of her despair.

The New York Times - Books

While he did not directly mention Donald Trump's proposal to ban all Muslim immigration to the United States, Obama appealed to Americans to "hold fast to our values" in the face of division, despair and "ugliness".

The Guardian

Imagine, in the face of the despair, a young pastor delivering a sermon to a principally gay, male congregation on the spirituality of HIV/AIDS.

Huffington Post

In that instant, my grandfather was confronted with the one choice we all have in the face of absolute despair: love or hate.

Huffington Post

The novel is about her coming to grips with life's messiness and opting for hope in the face of random despair.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the face of despair" to highlight resilience and the ability to maintain hope or action when conditions seem overwhelmingly negative.

Common error

Avoid using "in the face of despair" in everyday situations that don't involve significant adversity. Save it for contexts where the level of hopelessness is genuinely high to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the face of despair" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the circumstances under which an action occurs. It highlights the challenging conditions under which something is done, as supported by Ludwig AI's positive response.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Huffington Post

24%

The New York Times

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the face of despair" effectively conveys the concept of acting or maintaining hope amidst overwhelming hopelessness. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, it's crucial to reserve this phrase for situations genuinely marked by significant adversity, avoiding overuse in less critical scenarios. Related phrases like "amidst hopelessness" or "confronting despair" offer nuanced alternatives. By understanding its function and appropriate usage, writers can effectively highlight resilience and determination in the face of significant challenges.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amidst hopelessness

Replaces "face" with "midst", focusing on being surrounded by hopelessness.

confronting despair

Replaces the prepositional phrase with a verb, highlighting the act of facing despair directly.

defying despair

Emphasizes resistance and opposition to despair.

in times of despair

Shifts the focus to specific periods when despair is present.

when faced with despair

Introduces a conditional element, indicating a situation where despair is encountered.

despite the despair

Highlights acting regardless of the presence of despair.

in spite of despair

Similar to "despite", but can suggest a slightly stronger sense of overcoming.

under conditions of despair

Focuses on the circumstances that cause despair.

in a state of despair

Describes being in a condition characterized by despair.

experiencing despair

Highlights the personal experience of feeling despair.

FAQs

How can I use "in the face of despair" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to describe maintaining hope or action when confronted with overwhelming hopelessness. For example: "In the face of despair, they found strength in their community."

What phrases are similar to "in the face of despair"?

Similar phrases include "amidst hopelessness", "confronting despair", or "despite the despair", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is "in the face of despair" formal or informal?

The phrase "In the face of despair" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is most effective in situations where the gravity of the situation warrants its use.

What's the difference between "in the face of despair" and "in times of despair"?

"In the face of despair" emphasizes confronting or defying hopelessness, while "in times of despair" simply indicates that despair is present during those times.