profound hopelessness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "profound hopelessness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deep and overwhelming sense of despair or lack of hope in a situation. Example: "After years of struggling with his mental health, he fell into a state of profound hopelessness that seemed impossible to escape."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Add to that the fear of terrorism; disquiet at heightened racial tensions and the Black Lives Matter movement; and stress upon the social fabric caused by the opioid epidemic – itself a symptom of profound hopelessness in middle America.

The Guardian - Opinion

And he is subject to mood swings, in the grip of what would now no doubt be diagnosed as borderline bipolarity, switching between savage outrage and a sense, which expresses itself at its most dolorously magnificent in the sustained lament of Satire X, of profound hopelessness at the caprices of Fortune.

The Guardian

I felt a combination of shame, anger, and profound hopelessness.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We were left with a horrible void and a profound sense of hopelessness.

The Guardian - Opinion

Participants spoke of recognizing life is ending, having a profound sense of hopelessness, being unable to reconcile their experience with their spiritual faith, not understanding why God is doing this, having ones' belief system shattered, experiencing extreme dissonance.

BMC Nursing

Second, the present turmoil triggers a profound sense of deja vu and hopelessness.

The Guardian

Lots of people will dislike this movie: It's an unsettling collection of short films that doesn't try to be Hollywood-profound, despite dealing with death and hopelessness.

Vice

Lots of people will dislike this movie: it's an unsettling collection of short films which doesn't try to be Hollywood-profound, despite dealing with death and hopelessness.

Vice

Many a time I have sat in Daddy's big chair, a baby two and a half years old at my back, one 16 months and one one month on my knees, and cried for very hopelessness.' The massive rise in abortion at the end of the 19th century accompanied a profound social and cultural shift in attitude towards fertility.

The Guardian

The hopelessness!

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Profanity, nudity, hopelessness.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional states in writing, use "profound hopelessness" to depict a particularly deep and pervasive sense of despair, often stemming from difficult circumstances or prolonged adversity.

Common error

Avoid using "profound hopelessness" in everyday situations. This phrase is best reserved for describing significant emotional or societal challenges, not minor setbacks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "profound hopelessness" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "profound" modifies the noun "hopelessness", intensifying its meaning. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to describe a deeply felt state.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "profound hopelessness" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, though it is relatively rare. As Ludwig AI shows, it effectively conveys a deep and overwhelming sense of despair, typically in the context of serious situations reported in news and media or discussed in scientific publications. While appropriate for formal writing, overuse in casual contexts should be avoided. Alternative phrases such as "deep despair" or "intense hopelessness" can be used to express similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intense hopelessness

Highlights the strength of the feeling of hopelessness.

overwhelming hopelessness

Focuses on the feeling of being unable to cope with the hopelessness.

deep despair

Focuses on the depth of sadness rather than the absence of hope.

utter despair

Emphasizes the completeness of the despair.

crushing despair

Highlights the power of despair to overwhelm someone.

deep-seated despair

Implies the despair has been present for a long time and is firmly established.

abject despair

Implies a very low and degraded state of hopelessness.

complete lack of hope

States directly the absence of any positive expectation.

unmitigated hopelessness

Emphasizes that the hopelessness is not lessened or relieved in any way.

profound discouragement

Implies a loss of confidence or enthusiasm.

FAQs

How can I use "profound hopelessness" in a sentence?

You can use "profound hopelessness" to describe a deep sense of despair and lack of optimism. For instance: "The economic downturn led to a "profound hopelessness" among the unemployed".

What are some alternatives to "profound hopelessness"?

Alternatives include "deep despair", "intense hopelessness", or "utter despair", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "profound hopelessness" in formal writing?

Yes, "profound hopelessness" is suitable for formal writing when describing significant despair or lack of hope in a serious context.

What distinguishes "profound hopelessness" from simple "hopelessness"?

"Profound hopelessness" suggests a deeper, more intense and pervasive feeling of despair than simple "hopelessness". It implies a more significant and potentially debilitating emotional state.