verging on despair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "verging on despair" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or feeling that is approaching a state of hopelessness or deep sadness. Example: "After months of job searching with no success, she felt as if she was verging on despair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A modernist would have omitted that "expression verging on despair".

The New York Times - Magazine

Gessen was able to add a hasty epilogue, and after so many chapters verging on despair it is jarring to see her ending on a burst of hope.

The New York Times - Books

Such a statement -- along with the rest of "An Unfortunate Woman" -- can be read as an expression of Zen-like peace or of helplessness verging on despair.

The New York Times - Books

Several commentators were, however, quick to note how unusual it was for an oil company CEO to address the problem of carbon emissions at all, no less express something verging on despair over the prospect of making any progress in curbing them.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

How can you do that when you're surviving on four hours of sleep a night and on the verge of despair?

The Guardian

You're on the verge of despair.

The New Yorker

White feathers begin to appear among his fanmail, and he's on the verge of despair.

The Guardian - Books

Struggling to cope himself, he felt that his wife was on the verge of despair and couldn't move past the awful episode.

The Guardian

The country is still without great men; the treasury is still empty; and the people are on the verge of despair.

The New Yorker

The narrator of the book is a woman called Laura who has lost her husband and daughter and is on the verge of despair – before she pulls herself up and becomes vengeful instead.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Leyster verged on one of her own.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "verging on despair" to depict a state that isn't quite despair but is very close to it, suggesting a temporary or transient condition. It adds nuance to descriptions of emotional states.

Common error

Avoid using "verging on despair" when the situation warrants a stronger term like "despair" itself. The phrase indicates proximity, not the actual state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "verging on despair" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state close to despair. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, as seen in various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "verging on despair" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, indicating a state close to hopelessness without fully succumbing to it. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to add nuance and describe emotional states approaching despair. While not extremely common, it appears primarily in news and media contexts. Alternatives such as "on the brink of despair" or "close to despair" offer similar meanings. Remember to use it when you want to convey a near-despair state, not a full-blown one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the brink of despair

Similar in meaning, this alternative emphasizes being very close to a state of despair.

close to despair

A more direct and simple way of saying someone is near despair.

nearing despair

This alternative highlights the process of approaching despair.

bordering on despair

Indicates a state that is just starting to resemble despair.

approaching despair

Focuses on the action of moving closer to a state of despair.

on the edge of despair

Implies a precarious position, about to fall into despair.

sliding into despair

Suggests a gradual and unwanted descent into despair.

descending into despair

Similar to 'sliding', but perhaps a more deliberate or inevitable feeling.

succumbing to despair

Implies giving in or being overcome by feelings of despair.

on the verge of hopelessness

Shifts the focus slightly to a lack of hope, rather than the depth of sadness.

FAQs

How to use "verging on despair" in a sentence?

"Verging on despair" is used to describe a situation or feeling that is approaching a state of hopelessness or deep sadness. For example: "After months of job searching with no success, she felt as if she was verging on despair."

What can I say instead of "verging on despair"?

You can use alternatives like "on the brink of despair", "close to despair", or "bordering on despair depending on the context".

Which is correct, "verging on despair" or "in despair"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "Verging on despair" means approaching despair, while "in despair" means already experiencing that state.

What's the difference between "verging on despair" and "on the verge of despair"?

The phrases "verging on despair" and "on the verge of despair" are very similar in meaning and can often be used interchangeably. However, "on the verge of" might imply a slightly more immediate or imminent transition.