unfounded hope

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfounded hope" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a hope or expectation that lacks a basis in reality or evidence. Example: "Despite the challenges ahead, she held onto her unfounded hope that everything would turn out fine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

If books don't take refuge in unfounded hope, they may descend into banality.

The New York Times - Books

Please do not take the trouble to send written thanks for this letter perhaps I shall receive its reply in person if my surely not completely unfounded hope that you will come here in the winter is fulfilled.

Princeton University

As a solution to this, the direct measure of getting more women out into the workforce would have great advantages over the indirect tactic of encouraging them to stay at home in the unfounded hope that they will breed instead.Indeed, it may even turn out that working and having children go hand in hand.

The Economist

In the case of social media, we might tweet our anger in an unfounded hope that the words will make a difference or change someone's mind.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

These unfounded hopes not only decrease their perception of risk, but also provide imagined rewards as they defy uncertainties.

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

"And Britain could have played its part in ensuring the international community stood by the people of Libya in practice rather than standing behind the unfounded hopes of potential progress only in principle".

BBC

Finally, PM's underspecification may lead to unwarranted fears of patients as well as unfounded hopes like a perfectly tailored or patient-centered medicine [ 4, 5].

BMC Medical Ethics

I wonder what the people making the unfounded accusations hope to achieve.

HuffPost

She looks under tables and behind curtains, and her heart sinks deeper each time her hope proves unfounded.

The New Yorker

Should that hope proved unfounded, the pound will drop sharply, adding to the squeeze on living standards.

The Guardian - Opinion

Let's just hope that unfounded public fear doesn't cripple the wave of innovation, as it did with genetically modified foods.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unfounded hope", ensure the context clearly indicates why the hope lacks a basis. Providing specific reasons strengthens your argument and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While acceptable, "unfounded hope" can sometimes sound overly critical in formal writing. Consider alternatives like "unrealistic expectation" or "unjustified optimism" to maintain a more neutral tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfounded hope" primarily functions as a descriptive element, characterizing a particular type of expectation. It typically modifies a noun, highlighting that the hope being described lacks a solid basis in reality. Ludwig AI shows this is commonly used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unfounded hope" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, although not overwhelmingly common. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a hope that lacks a solid basis in reality, often implying skepticism or impending disappointment. The phrase appears in a variety of sources, especially in news and media, academic and scientific contexts and has several alternative phrases like "baseless hope", "unjustified hope", and "false hope".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unjustified hope

Replaces 'unfounded' with 'unjustified', emphasizing the lack of fairness or rightness in holding the hope.

baseless hope

Substitutes 'unfounded' with 'baseless', highlighting the absence of a foundation or support for the hope.

groundless hope

Similar to 'baseless hope', but 'groundless' suggests a lack of any reasonable basis or reason.

unreasonable hope

Focuses on the lack of reason or logic behind the hope, implying it's not sensible.

illusory hope

Replaces 'unfounded' with 'illusory', suggesting the hope is deceptive or misleading.

false hope

A more direct and common way to express that the hope is incorrect or will not be realized.

empty hope

Indicates the hope lacks substance or any real chance of fulfillment.

vain hope

Implies the hope is futile and unlikely to be successful, often associated with pride or arrogance.

wishful thinking

Expresses a belief based on desires rather than reality, often considered unrealistic.

naive expectation

Suggests the expectation is based on a lack of experience or understanding of the true situation.

FAQs

How to use "unfounded hope" in a sentence?

You can use "unfounded hope" to describe a situation where someone believes something positive will happen, but there's no evidence to support it. For example: "Despite the economic downturn, he clung to an unfounded hope that his business would thrive."

What can I say instead of "unfounded hope"?

You can use alternatives like "unjustified hope", "baseless hope", or "wishful thinking" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "unfounded hope" the same as "false hope"?

While similar, "unfounded hope" suggests a lack of evidence or reason, while "false hope" implies that the hope is actively misleading or deceptive. "False hope" is often used when someone is deliberately given a reason to be optimistic when that is unlikely to happen.

What is the difference between "unfounded hope" and "unfounded optimism"?

"Unfounded hope" refers specifically to a positive expectation, while "unfounded optimism" is a more general tendency to view situations positively without sufficient reason.