in utter despair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in utter despair" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of complete hopelessness or extreme sadness. Example: "After hearing the news of her friend's passing, she was left in utter despair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

I've seen kids in utter despair.

The New York Times

"At times he has been in utter despair.

The Guardian

Q I am writing in utter despair and I am hoping you can help.

The Guardian - Money

Dale Steyn, who had been treated harshly in previous overs, sank to his haunches in utter despair.

The Guardian - Sport

"The Syrian people continue to live in terror and in utter despair after the international community failed to prevent even the gravest violations committed against them.

The Guardian

I was alone with the president; his hand went to his head in utter despair, 'Oh, no,' I heard him groan.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

And when they had clean forgotten Our admonition We granted them all that they desired; but just as they were rejoicing in what they were given, We suddenly smote them and they were plunged into utter despair.

Huffington Post

It's a scene mirrored in roman à clef The Devil Wears Prada, where Meryl Streep's Wintour proxy, Miranda Priestly, damns an entire collection with the merest pursing of her lips, sending a designer into utter despair.

BBC

Theology, for me, gives me permission to fall neither into utter despair nor utter denial of very real violence.

Huffington Post

A similar logic would seem to apply to someone with uncontrollable and unwanted sexual desire for (say) young children; or to someone falling unwillingly (yet irresistibly) for an individual other than his spouse; or to someone desperately, and unrequitedly, in love, who had no prospect of ever having her feelings returned and who was therefore descending into utter despair.

American Journal of Bioethics

Brendan Rodgers in utter desperation.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in utter despair" to vividly portray a character's emotional state in literature or to emphasize the severity of a situation in news reporting. For example: "The refugees lived "in utter despair", having lost everything."

Common error

While "in utter despair" is a powerful phrase, overusing it can diminish its impact. Use it sparingly and reserve it for situations where the despair is truly profound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in utter despair" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to describe the manner or state in which an action is performed or a condition exists. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use to depict the intensity of negative emotions. Ludwig AI validates the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in utter despair" effectively conveys a state of complete hopelessness or extreme sadness, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct and usable, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. To avoid diminishing its impact, it should be used judiciously. Alternatives such as "in complete hopelessness" or "in profound sorrow" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. The phrase serves to vividly portray profound emotional states, adding depth and intensity to descriptions of difficult situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in complete hopelessness

Replaces "despair" with a more direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of hope.

in profound sorrow

Substitutes "despair" with "sorrow", focusing on the deep sadness experienced.

in deep anguish

Replaces "despair" with "anguish", highlighting the intense mental or physical suffering.

overwhelmed by grief

Shifts the focus to the feeling of being overcome by sadness, rather than just the state of despair.

consumed by sadness

Emphasizes how sadness has taken over the person's emotional state.

plunged into despondency

Uses a more formal word, "despondency", to convey a state of low spirits and loss of hope.

experiencing crushing disappointment

Focuses on the disappointment as the cause of the despair.

utterly heartbroken

Uses the adjective "heartbroken" to describe the emotional pain and devastation.

at the end of one's rope

Uses an idiomatic expression to suggest that someone has reached their limit of endurance and is in despair.

bereft of all hope

Highlights the complete absence of hope as the defining characteristic.

FAQs

How can I use "in utter despair" in a sentence?

"In utter despair" is used to describe a state of complete hopelessness or extreme sadness. For example: "After losing the election, the candidate was "in utter despair"."

What phrases are similar to "in utter despair"?

Similar phrases include "in complete hopelessness", "in profound sorrow", or "overwhelmed by grief". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "in complete despair" instead of "in utter despair"?

Yes, "in complete despair" is a valid alternative. "Utter" and "complete" are synonyms in this context, both emphasizing the totality of the despair.

What is the difference between "despair" and "sadness"?

"Despair" implies a complete loss of hope, whereas "sadness" is a more general feeling of unhappiness. "In utter despair" suggests a more profound and overwhelming state than simple sadness.