intense yearning

USAGE SUMMARY

"intense yearning" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an emotion involving strong desire or longing. Example: "She felt an intense yearning to explore the world beyond her small town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

For one thing, many grievers experience intense yearning or longing after a death — more than they experience, say, denial.

The New Yorker

In Ms. Lawson's songs, the intense yearning for romance can pale before a more basic need: survival.

The New York Times

The program also included an intense, yearning interpretation of Berg's Seven Early Songs and selections by Granados, including a flirtatious rendition of "El Majo Discrete" ("The Discreet Lover").

The New York Times - Arts

It is an intense yearning to defeat Mr. Obama that creates the enthusiasm, rather than the notion of one of the candidates serving in the Oval Office.

The New York Times

And the orchestra, as fine as the chorus, "spoke" the words, too, investing every line with meaning: in those pleas for peace, a quality of intense yearning.

The New York Times - Arts

There was chemistry: intense, yearning, leg-crossing chemistry!

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Cameron might have been able to capture something of Eliot's great seriousness, intelligence, and generosity — her expression "not only of habitual brooding thought and intellectual travail but of intense and yearning human sympathy and tenderness," as one observer put it.

The New Yorker

Before criticizing Caroline Wozniacki for her 46 consecutive weeks at the top without benefit of a Grand Slam title, one should listen to Ivanovic, who spoke earlier this summer about the pressure of being No. 1 becoming so intense she yearned for an escape.

The New York Times - Sports

With the smallest gestures -- the tilt of his body, the lift of a hand, a quickly shuttered glance -- he conveys his intense but discreet yearning for the woman who ultimately refuses him.

The New York Times

Golden-hued faux marbre has been painted on the walls and arches and pilasters, and I was revisited by that swirl of intense love and yearning I had often felt when I was a little girl kneeling in the school chapel on a Tuesday morning, listening to a Mass I could barely understand.

The New York Times - Magazine

It is touted as a keenly Korean emotion because it recognizes the contradictions of the Korean experience: traditionally, the intense nationalism and yearning for purity, so close to German ideas of _volk, coupled with an overwhelming experience of victimhood, and, for the past fifty years, the bitter reality of national division.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intense yearning" to describe a powerful feeling of wanting something, especially something difficult to obtain or something that is lost. It effectively conveys a deep emotional state.

Common error

Avoid using "intense yearning" in everyday conversation or informal writing where simpler terms like "really wanting" or "wishing for" would be more appropriate. It can sound overly dramatic in casual settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intense yearning" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "intense" modifies the noun "yearning". Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It describes a state of strong desire or longing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intense yearning" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that effectively communicates a deep feeling of longing or desire. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, indicating its suitability for expressing profound emotional states. While alternatives like "deep longing" or "strong desire" exist, "intense yearning" carries a particular weight and emotional depth. When using this phrase, consider the register and avoid overuse in casual settings to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deep longing

Replaces "yearning" with "longing", conveying a similar sense of deep desire.

profound longing

Highlights the depth and significance of the feeling of longing.

passionate longing

Adds an element of passion or strong emotion to the longing.

unyielding longing

Highlights the persistence and strength of the longing, suggesting it is difficult to overcome or ignore.

strong desire

Substitutes both words for broader terms, focusing on the desire itself rather than the emotional quality.

powerful craving

Emphasizes the irresistible nature of the craving.

acute craving

Emphasizes the compulsive aspect of the desire, making it more urgent.

ardent desire

Conveys a strong, burning desire.

consuming desire

Suggests that the desire dominates one's thoughts and actions.

fervent wish

Implies a passionate and sincere hope.

FAQs

How can I use "intense yearning" in a sentence?

You can use "intense yearning" to describe a strong feeling of longing or desire for something. For example, "She felt an "intense yearning" for her homeland after years of being away."

What are some alternatives to "intense yearning"?

Alternatives include "deep longing", "strong desire", or "acute craving" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "intense yearning" in writing?

"Intense yearning" is suitable in contexts where you want to emphasize a profound and emotional sense of longing, such as in literature, personal essays, or when describing experiences of grief or separation.

What distinguishes "intense yearning" from simply "wanting" something?

"Intense yearning" implies a much deeper and more emotional desire than simply "wanting". It suggests a powerful feeling of longing, often for something that is unattainable or lost, whereas "wanting" can be a more casual or practical desire.