powerful yearning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "powerful yearning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong desire or longing for something, often in a poetic or emotional context. Example: "She felt a powerful yearning for the home she had left behind, a place filled with memories and love."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

But we also learned that alongside that war many Iraqis expressed an equally powerful yearning to live together as citizens.

The New York Times

Carter feels a powerful yearning to instruct and to be heard, as his publication history shows, but he is the opposite of a demagogue.

The New Yorker

Only at ground zero has the instinct to build over been checked by a comparably powerful yearning for a place of lament.

The New York Times

I was left with little more than colorful accounts of the day Ruth came to Westchester, and a powerful yearning for baseball season.

The New York Times

By luck or design, Zuckerberg had tapped into a powerful yearning: the desire of hundreds of ambitious and impressionable young people to establish themselves and make friends in an unfamiliar environment.

The New Yorker

As Mr. Hutchinson tells the tale, "Traffic" courses to its somber destination fueled not just by the apparently incessant appetite for cheap highs but also by an equally powerful yearning for freedom.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

I love and honor this search, in its halting steps, imaginings of powerful deities, yearning heroes, and colorful stories, because it represents our highest yearnings.

Huffington Post

Could 2012, remarkably, be a race between two powerful victims yearning to be lonely at the top?

The New York Times

In short, the protests aimed at Walmart on what is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year may constitute a test of the nation's sympathy for low-wage workers -- many of whom earn so little that they qualify for food stamps -- against the powerful American yearning for a great deal.

Huffington Post

Corzine had long lived in New Jersey, was a major donor to the national Democratic Party and had always expressed a powerful if vague yearning for political office.

The New York Times - Magazine

That is because it appeals to the imperialism of power and the yearning of the powerful to refashion society after their whim or ideology.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "powerful yearning" to convey a sense of deep longing or intense desire, particularly in contexts where emotional depth is emphasized. This phrase is effective for expressing a profound emotional need or aspiration.

Common error

Avoid using "powerful yearning" in technical or highly analytical contexts where a more objective or precise term would be appropriate. This phrase is best suited for emotionally charged or descriptive writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "powerful yearning" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "powerful" modifies the noun "yearning", intensifying its meaning. As Ludwig AI highlights, it’s used to convey a strong sense of longing or desire.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "powerful yearning" effectively communicates a deep and intense sense of longing or desire. Grammatically correct and primarily used in news and media contexts, as indicated by Ludwig, it serves to evoke strong emotions and underscore the significance of the longing. While suitable for descriptive writing, avoid overuse in technical contexts. Consider alternatives like "intense longing" or "deep desire" depending on the nuance you wish to convey. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is well-regarded and frequently employed to convey genuine emotions in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intense longing

Replaces "powerful" with "intense", focusing on the strength of the emotion.

profound longing

Emphasizes the depth and significance of the feeling.

deep desire

Substitutes "yearning" with "desire", emphasizing the wanting aspect.

strong craving

Uses "craving" to convey a more urgent or physical need.

fervent wish

Implies a passionate and sincere hope.

consuming desire

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

burning ambition

Shifts the focus to a strong desire for achievement.

passionate aspiration

Combines strong emotion with a goal-oriented focus.

overwhelming urge

Highlights the compelling nature of the desire.

irresistible impulse

Highlights the uncontrollable nature of the desire.

FAQs

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

You can use "powerful yearning" to describe a strong desire or longing for something. For example, "She felt a powerful yearning for her homeland" or "The artist's work expressed a powerful yearning for peace".

What can I say instead of "powerful yearning"?

You can use alternatives like "intense longing", "deep desire", or "strong craving" depending on the context.

Is "powerful yearning" formal or informal?

"Powerful yearning" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase suitable for both writing and speaking, particularly when expressing deep emotion or desire.

What distinguishes "powerful yearning" from "strong desire"?

"Powerful yearning" suggests a deeper, more emotional longing than a simple "strong desire". Yearning implies a sense of loss or incompleteness that desire may not fully capture.