sense of desire

USAGE SUMMARY

"sense of desire" is a valid phrase in written English.
You could use it whenever you want to refer to a strong feeling of wanting something. Here is an example: The sense of desire I had felt for years was finally realized when I received my college acceptance letter.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

I remind myself of this because it explains why my sense of desire is so lost.

The New York Times

This may also account for the dual sense of desire and horror that the picture conveys.

The New York Times

Maybe not the profound change she was hoping for from the drug, but some incipient sense of desire.

The New York Times

"There was much more of a strong sense of desire to defend your country when there was a cause.

The New York Times

The pills can promote blood flow and lubrication, but this doesn't do much to create a conscious sense of desire.

The New York Times - Magazine

Do you think that Lea gets her sense of desire back after she leaves the military, when she's back in Tel Aviv?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The futility of pecking at the window again and again without a cognitive sense, but of desire, strikes me as appropriate for such a structure as the Bronx courthouse".

Huffington Post

So has a more recent sense of haste a desire to close this chapter of history along with the century.

The Economist

It is one reason why Billy Budd, with its sense of forbidden desire and affronted morality, retains its potency in a fraught 21st century.

Independent

Explaining her sense of how desire operates, most of the time, in women, she said to me, "We're just not talking about innate hunger".

The New York Times - Magazine

What F.I.I. does is create a structure for families that encourages the sense of control, desire for self-determination, and mutual support that have characterized the collective rise out of poverty for countless communities in American history.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sense of desire" to convey an intuitive or emotional understanding of wanting something, rather than a purely rational decision.

Common error

Avoid using "sense of desire" when a more direct term like "want" or "need" would suffice. "Sense of desire" implies a nuanced, almost instinctual feeling, not simply a conscious decision to obtain something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sense of desire" functions as a noun phrase that describes a feeling or awareness of wanting something. Ludwig shows that the phrase is frequently used to convey an emotional or intuitive understanding.

Expression frequency: Common

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 "sense of desire" is a common and grammatically correct way to express an awareness or feeling of wanting something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. It is frequently used in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts to describe motivations or emotional states. While similar phrases like "feeling of wanting" or "yearning" exist, "sense of desire" implies a nuanced, intuitive understanding. Avoid overusing it in situations where simpler terms like "want" or "need" suffice. As such, "sense of desire" serves a valuable role in conveying complex emotional experiences, but you must use it thoughtfully.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feeling of wanting

Replaces "desire" with "wanting", shifting from a noun to a gerund phrase.

yearning

Condenses the phrase into a single word, emphasizing the emotional aspect of desire.

craving

Similar to yearning, but implies a stronger, often physical, desire.

longing

Highlights the wistful, often unattainable nature of the desire.

inclination

Subtler; suggests a tendency or leaning towards something rather than intense desire.

appetite

Implies a hunger or need, whether literal or metaphorical.

passion

Emphasizes the intensity and emotional fervor of the desire.

itch

Informal term suggesting a restless, insistent desire.

urge

Suggests an impulse or compelling need.

preference

The weakest form of desire, indicating a choice rather than a strong feeling.

FAQs

How can I use "sense of desire" in a sentence?

You can use "sense of desire" to describe a feeling of wanting something, as in, "The character's actions were driven by a "sense of desire" for power".

What are some alternatives to "sense of desire"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "yearning", "craving", or "feeling of wanting".

Is it redundant to say "a strong sense of desire"?

While "sense of desire" already implies a feeling, adding "strong" can emphasize the intensity of that feeling. However, consider if a more concise phrasing like "intense desire" might be more effective.

What's the difference between "sense of desire" and "feeling of desire"?

The phrases are very similar. "Sense of desire" suggests an intuitive understanding or awareness of wanting, while "feeling of desire" emphasizes the emotional experience. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.