mood of despair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'mood of despair' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe an emotion or atmosphere in which somebody experiences a deep sense of hopelessness or sadness. For example, "The entire town was overcome with a mood of despair after the factory closed down and unemployment skyrocketed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

It was drenched in a mood of despair.

The New York Times

The new songs, he said, share "a mood of despair and melancholy".

The Guardian - Music

And from their perspective, our prevailing mood of despair is irrational, and frankly a bit self-indulgent.

The Guardian

Although it accounts for his perpetual mood of despair, that insight also makes him a hero for this age of anxiety.

The New York Times - Books

Given this mood of despair and the sense of defeat, we should expect another exodus of fine human resources in the coming months and years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ziauddin Sardar's characterization of 'postnormal times' elegantly captures the mood of despair, uncertainty and insecurity in the West due to the multiple shocks of terrorism, economic recession and climate change.

Futures

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

It was fascinating to witness the varying moods of despair and elated hope in Antwerp.

Huffington Post

These musical elements help convey moods of despair and dejection that reflect the album's subject matter.

Wikipedia

Mary Wilke: [reading aloud from Issac's wife's memoir] "He was given to fits of rage, Jewish liberal paranoia, male chauvinism, self-righteous misanthropy, and nihilistic moods of despair.

Vice

He accepts the fact in his prevailing mood of inert despair, and wanders into the adjoining room of his new acquaintance, named David Robertson.

The New Yorker

As the waters rise and the curtains rip on Fischer's set, we are sunk into a mood of apocalyptic despair.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the subtle differences in meaning when using "mood of despair" and choose an alternative that more precisely fits the intended emotional nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "mood of despair" in situations that are only mildly disappointing. Overusing it can diminish its impact when describing truly dire or tragic circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mood of despair" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It describes a prevailing emotional state or atmosphere, as evidenced by examples in Ludwig and is stated as correct by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mood of despair" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to depict situations or environments marked by profound hopelessness and sadness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for written English and effectively conveys strong negative emotions. Predominantly found in news, media and science contexts, as shown in Ludwig examples, this phrase effectively evokes feelings of discouragement and gloom. While versatile, it’s important to use "mood of despair" judiciously, reserving it for contexts where the sense of hopelessness is genuinely significant to avoid diluting its impact. Alternatives such as "sense of hopelessness" or "state of despondency" can offer nuanced expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sense of hopelessness

Focuses on the feeling of lacking any positive expectation.

feeling of dejection

Emphasizes a state of being cast down in spirits.

state of despondency

Indicates a deep loss of hope or courage.

atmosphere of gloom

Shifts focus to the environment rather than the internal feeling.

prevailing pessimism

Highlights a widespread negative outlook.

air of melancholy

Suggests a pensive sadness, often long-lasting.

spirit of defeat

Focuses on the acceptance of failure or loss.

undertone of sorrow

Implies a subtle but pervasive sadness.

wave of pessimism

Describes a situation where pessimistic ideas are all over the place.

climate of hopelessness

Focuses on hopelessness as the dominant characteristic of a social or political situation.

FAQs

How can I use "mood of despair" in a sentence?

You can use "mood of despair" to describe a situation or environment filled with hopelessness. For instance, "The economic downturn cast a "mood of despair" over the small town".

What are some alternatives to "mood of despair"?

Alternatives include "sense of hopelessness", "feeling of dejection", or "state of despondency", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is "mood of despair" formal or informal?

The phrase "mood of despair" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it is more commonly found in journalistic and literary writing.

What is the difference between "mood of despair" and "sense of despair"?

"Mood of despair" typically describes an atmosphere or environment, whereas "sense of despair" refers to an individual's feeling or emotion. You can use "mood of despair" when referring to the atmosphere and "sense of despair" to describe one's emotions.