lack of heart

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lack of heart" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deficiency in compassion, empathy, or emotional engagement in a person or situation. Example: "His lack of heart in the negotiations led to a deal that benefited only one side."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

We did not play as we can, but there was no lack of heart or effort.

The Guardian - Sport

Williams and Boozer, showing their immaturity, promptly ripped teammates for a lack of heart.

The New York Times

Not all of the more recent stories succeed, but it's not for lack of heart.

The New York Times - Books

But despite their lack of heart, there's no reason Junior Boys shouldn't be able to survive.

The Guardian - Music

Given the lack of heart medication and inhaler treatments, it was no wonder that she had worsened.

The New Yorker

Girardi criticized the players for a lack of heart, for missing signs and for a lackadaisical approach to team rules.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Even inside Israel, human-rights groups, concerned that much of the normally outspoken local press has turned largely jingoistic, have launched a website to expose the mounting tragedy inside Gaza.They suffer no lack of heart-rending material.

The Economist

ORCHESTRAS AND CHORUSES NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC Lorin Maazel has closed every Philharmonic season of his tenure but one with a Mahler symphony; this time it's No. 7, long regarded as a "composer's piece" because of its intricate structure and notable lack of heart-on-sleeve emotion.

The New Yorker

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet ORCHESTRAS AND CHORUSES NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC Lorin Maazel has closed every Philharmonic season of his tenure but one with a Mahler symphony; this time it's No. 7, long regarded as a "composer's piece" because of its intricate structure and notable lack of heart-on-sleeve emotion.

The New Yorker

With double damage and lack of hearts in the overworld, the punishment for messing up is more severe, so you should know how to deal with the enemies and bosses before going into Hero Mode.

WikiHow

Another mysterious anomaly is the absence of the pharaoh's heart and lack of a heart scarab to serve as a replacement.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lack of heart" to describe situations where a person or entity demonstrates a distinct absence of compassion, empathy, or emotional consideration. It is effective in conveying moral or ethical criticism.

Common error

Avoid using "lack of heart" in highly formal or professional settings where a more nuanced or specific term like "lack of empathy" or "insensitivity" might be more appropriate. "Lack of heart" can sometimes sound overly emotional or subjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lack of heart" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It serves to identify a deficiency or absence of compassion, empathy, or emotional warmth in a person, action, or situation. As Ludwig AI shows, it appears in contexts ranging from sports commentary to literary criticism and medical analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

26%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lack of heart" is a common noun phrase used to describe the absence of compassion, empathy, or emotional warmth. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in various contexts, including news, scientific articles, and academic discussions. While versatile, it's best used in neutral to slightly informal settings, and more specific terms like "lack of empathy" may be preferable in highly formal contexts. When aiming for alternatives, consider phrases like "absence of compassion" or "deficiency of empathy" to convey similar meanings with varying degrees of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absence of compassion

Replaces "lack" with "absence" and "heart" with "compassion", focusing on the emotional aspect.

deficiency of empathy

Substitutes "lack" with "deficiency" and "heart" with "empathy", highlighting the understanding of others' feelings.

want of sympathy

Uses "want" to mean lack and replaces "heart" with "sympathy", stressing the shared feeling.

devoid of emotion

Emphasizes the absence of emotional expression or feeling.

unfeeling nature

Focuses on the inherent characteristic of being without feeling.

cold-heartedness

Condenses the phrase into a single word, emphasizing the cruelty or indifference.

callous disregard

Highlights the uncaring and indifferent attitude.

emotional detachment

Indicates a separation from emotional involvement or connection.

insensitivity

Focuses on the lack of awareness or consideration for others' feelings.

apathy

Highlights the lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

FAQs

How can I use "lack of heart" in a sentence?

You can use "lack of heart" to describe someone or something that shows a distinct absence of compassion or empathy. For example, "His "lack of heart" during the negotiation led to an unfair agreement."

What's a more formal alternative to "lack of heart"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "absence of compassion" or "deficiency of empathy". These phrases may be more suitable for professional or academic writing.

Is it correct to say "a lack of heart" or simply "lack of heart"?

Both "a lack of heart" and "lack of heart" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the context and whether you want to emphasize the specific instance (a lack) or the general concept (lack).

What is the difference between "lack of heart" and "cold-heartedness"?

"Lack of heart" describes a general absence of compassion, while "cold-heartedness" implies a more active and intentional indifference or cruelty. Cold-heartedness suggests a deliberate choice to be unfeeling.