insurmountable loss

USAGE SUMMARY

"insurmountable loss" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a feeling of hopelessness or inability to overcome something. Example: The family experienced an insurmountable loss when their beloved matriarch passed away.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

To the Tarnopol, Moore and Silverman families our heart goes out to all of you on your insurmountable loss.

The New York Times

She may face insurmountable loss -- of family members, of a career, of her way of life.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

At times it ceases altogether, leaving Adèle to battle on alone in the wake of insurmountable (and self-inflicted) loss.

The Guardian - Film

"Unfortunately, the insurmountable burden of continued losses has become too heavy for the company to bear," Philippine Airlines said.

The New York Times

In the report, the Congressional committee details the last-ditch efforts by the group to salvage the bets and the increasing concerns that the losses were insurmountable.

The New York Times

In both works no crisis lasts forever, and no loss, however saddening, is insurmountable.

The New York Times - Arts

No one-loss team in the final discussion will have a worse defeat than Ohio State's, although committee chairman Jeff Long hinted this week the Virginia Tech loss might not be insurmountable.

Los Angeles Times

Most eyes were on the nationally ranked visitors, who could have avenged their playoff loss and taken a nearly insurmountable lead in the Ivy League by completing a road sweep of the league's traditional powers, Penn and Princeton.

Princeton University

The problem of emergence of antigen loss variants is therefore not insurmountable.

BMC Cancer

The couple live outside Toronto with their two sons, aged 21 and 18. Phuc says her Christian faith brought her physical and emotional peace "in the midst of hatred, bitterness, pain, loss, hopelessness," when the pain seemed insurmountable.

The Guardian

Inter's league lead, once thought insurmountable, has melted after five draws and two losses in its past 10 games as Coach Jose Mourinho has criticized the often-toxic climate around the game in Italy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "insurmountable loss" to convey a sense of profound and irreversible loss that feels impossible to overcome. Be mindful of the weight this phrase carries and use it in appropriate contexts to avoid exaggeration or insensitivity.

Common error

Avoid using "insurmountable loss" to describe minor inconveniences or setbacks. This phrase is reserved for situations where the loss is truly devastating and has a long-lasting impact. Reserve this phrase for severe consequences, don't use it for temporary issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "insurmountable loss" functions as a noun phrase, where "insurmountable" modifies the noun "loss". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. The phrase describes a loss that appears too great to be overcome.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "insurmountable loss" is a grammatically sound phrase used to depict a loss that feels impossible to overcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English. While relatively rare, it is employed in both News & Media and Science contexts to express profound and irreversible loss. When using this phrase, remember to reserve it for truly devastating situations and avoid overuse in trivial contexts. Alternatives like "overwhelming tragedy" or "unbearable grief" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overwhelming tragedy

Emphasizes the emotional impact and scale of the tragic event.

unbearable grief

Focuses specifically on the emotional suffering caused by the loss.

insufferable pain

Highlights the difficulty in enduring the pain caused by the loss.

irreparable damage

Shifts the focus to the irreversible nature of the damage caused by the loss.

unmanageable sorrow

Focuses on the emotional burden of sorrow that is hard to deal with.

devastating setback

Emphasizes the negative impact of the loss on progress or goals.

hopeless bereavement

Emphasizes the despair and lack of hope associated with the bereavement.

unrecoverable misfortune

Highlights the element of bad luck and the inability to recover from the event.

unmitigable disaster

Stresses the severity of the disaster and the impossibility of lessening its effects.

irredeemable failure

Focuses on the aspect of irreversible failure as a consequence of the loss.

FAQs

How to use "insurmountable loss" in a sentence?

You can use "insurmountable loss" to describe a situation where a loss is so significant that it feels impossible to overcome. For example: "The family experienced an insurmountable loss when their home was destroyed by the hurricane."

What can I say instead of "insurmountable loss"?

You can use alternatives like "unbearable grief", "devastating setback", or "overwhelming tragedy" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "insurmountable loss"?

The phrase is best used to describe events or situations where the loss is deeply impactful and creates a sense of hopelessness or extreme difficulty in recovery. It is suitable for conveying the magnitude of grief, damage, or failure.

What is the difference between "insurmountable loss" and "significant loss"?

"Insurmountable loss" implies that the loss is so great that it is seemingly impossible to overcome, while "significant loss" simply indicates that the loss is substantial. The former carries a much stronger emotional weight and conveys a sense of despair.