lingering emotions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lingering emotions" is correct and usable in written English.
It usually refers to strong feelings that remain in the present even though the incident or situation that caused them has already passed. For example, "Even though she had moved on from the painful breakup, she still had lingering emotions whenever she thought about it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Odds are that even with the new structure, lingering emotions will incite a few attempts to breach the boundaries.

Harvard Business Review

Ms. Dretzel, 40, who grew up in Ohio, had a painful breakup some months ago, and found the class helped her work out the lingering emotions.

The New York Times - Arts

Earlier this week Glenn, who had previously branded her Booker-collecting ex "cowardly, dysfunctional and immature" for his decision to dump her via email (tsk!), gave an interview to Rupert Murdoch's screeching American tabloid the New York Post, in which she accused Rushdie of harbouring lingering emotions for his leggy ex-girlfriend, Padma Lakshmi.

Independent

What might the other person be needing — could they possibly be needing something similar?" Focusing on each other's needs, and not how you may have conveyed them in the heat of the moment, can remove any lingering emotions from the situation.

HuffPost

This is a healthy routine because it allows the writer to relax and unwind at the end of the day by "letting out" any lingering emotions.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's a tenacious, profound and lingering emotion which no words can encompass.

HuffPost

Fear is nothing more than a lingering emotion that's fueled by your imagination.

HuffPost

In the tense final moments, Cotillard's performance achieves some of the piercing gravity of her work in James Gray's "The Immigrant". But this movie's delicate, lingering emotion isn't just a function of her acting, or of an ending whose wrenching finality seems all the more inevitable in retrospect.

Los Angeles Times

So awful is the prospect of a repeat, so raw are the emotions, so lingering is the dread that it distorts our thinking and warps assessments of what actual threats are out there.

Huffington Post

The raw emotion still lingering following the death of Gary Speed was a constant presence through what his successor as Wales manager Chris Coleman called "the most difficult press conference I'm ever likely to do".

BBC

Besides the surprise, other emotions lingered just below the surface.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lingering emotions", ensure the context clearly indicates the source or cause of these emotions, enhancing clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "lingering emotions" to describe fleeting or momentary feelings. This phrase implies a persistence and depth of emotion that should be accurately reflected in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lingering emotions" functions as a noun phrase, where "lingering" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "emotions". It describes emotions that continue to exist or persist beyond their initial cause, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lingering emotions" describes feelings that persist after the initial trigger has subsided. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively rare, it appears primarily in news and media contexts. Alternative phrases, such as "persistent feelings" or "unresolved feelings", can offer nuanced variations in meaning. When using "lingering emotions", clarity about the cause and duration of these feelings enhances the writing's impact, ensuring it reflects the sustained nature of the described emotional state. Being mindful of this detail helps avoid misrepresenting fleeting feelings as something more profound and enduring.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Lingering sentiments

A direct synonym, replacing "emotions" with a more formal term.

Persistent feelings

Focuses on the continuation of the feeling, less on the source.

Remaining sentiments

Emphasizes what is left behind after something has passed.

Unresolved feelings

Highlights the lack of closure or processing of the emotions.

Lasting feelings

Highlights the permanence of the emotional experience.

Unfading emotions

Stresses the lack of decrease in intensity of the emotions.

Residue of emotions

Implies that the emotions are like a trace element.

Lingering affections

Implies a positive emotional attachment that remains.

Sustained emotions

Emphasizes the endurance and maintenance of the emotional state.

Lingering trauma

This phrase refers to the emotions that come about due to a traumatic event.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "lingering emotions" in a sentence?

To effectively use "lingering emotions", ensure your sentence clearly indicates what caused the emotions and why they persist. For example, "Despite the years that had passed, "lingering emotions" of sadness resurfaced when she revisited her childhood home."

What are some alternatives to "lingering emotions"?

Depending on the specific context, you can use alternatives like "persistent feelings", "remaining sentiments", or "unresolved feelings" to convey similar meanings.

Is it appropriate to use "lingering emotions" in formal writing?

Yes, "lingering emotions" is suitable for formal writing as it is a grammatically correct and widely understood phrase. However, ensure your tone remains appropriate for the formal context.

What's the difference between "lingering emotions" and "passing feelings"?

"Lingering emotions" suggests that the feelings persist over a considerable amount of time. On the other hand, "passing feelings" refer to emotions that are temporary and quickly fade away.