waning hope

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "waning hope" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a diminishing or decreasing sense of optimism or expectation about a situation. Example: "As the deadline approached, her waning hope for a positive outcome became increasingly evident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And even though he's not saying anything particularly new, the bluntness of the charge is just a little jarring, even in the context of waning hope in hoped-for change.

Huffington Post

A night alone at the Galaxy Diner allows for some self-examination, and the pain of waning hope and frustrated ambition is partly salved by yummy diner desserts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Lawyers for detainees and military officials agree that waning hopes for any release among low-level prisoners are an underlying cause of the unrest.

The New York Times

Thoreau's much-quoted words about "lives of quiet desperation" were regularly and mistily invoked to describe the ordinary people of waning hopes in Inge's plays, which were regularly translated to film ("Picnic," "Bus Stop," "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs").

The New York Times

In the meantime, my husband and I order tall mugs of Czech beer and a few Eastern dishes, nursing waning hopes that some action will walk through the door soon.

Vice

Everywhere else, you watch your team's fortunes wax and wane hoping that every several years you'll have a contending team.

The New York Times - Sports

There is waning U.S. hope that the Syrian political opposition would coalesce around a political program and substantive actions on the ground that could persuade the population that it is capable of governing and wean fence-sitters away from supporting Assad.

The Washington Post

That notion was underscored again last night at Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers' waning playoff hopes took another devastating blow.

The New York Times - Sports

His family knows the full extent of his achievements only because of the journalists, historians and documentarians who contacted their father in his waning years, hoping to capture the stories of "the greatest generation" before those who remember them are gone.

The Washington Post

Now Wane hopes that the different strategy he has employed in his second season as a head coach, rotating his squad in an effort to ensure their fitness for a possible final, will allow his players to recover from this compelling, exhausting contest to complete a double next week, having already won the Challenge Cup at Wembley in August.

The Guardian - Sport

Wane hopes the memory of his side's disappointing 39-28 loss to the Rhinos will be his motivation for victory.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "waning hope" to describe situations where optimism is decreasing due to negative or uncertain circumstances. It's effective in conveying a sense of diminishing prospects or expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "waning hope" when the situation is already completely devoid of optimism. "Waning hope" implies a gradual decline, not a total absence of hope. If there is no hope left, use terms like "despair" or "hopelessness" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "waning hope" functions as a noun phrase, where "waning" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "hope". It describes the state or quality of hope, indicating that it is in the process of decreasing or diminishing. Ludwig AI examples show this phrase is typically used to express a decrease in optimism.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "waning hope" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a diminishing sense of optimism. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts. It’s most frequently found in news and media sources, suitable for both formal and informal writing, and effectively conveys a sense of decreasing expectations. Be mindful not to confuse it with complete hopelessness and consider alternatives like "diminishing hope" or "fading hope" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

diminishing hope

Replaces "waning" with "diminishing", emphasizing a gradual reduction.

fading hope

Substitutes "waning" with "fading", suggesting a gradual disappearance.

declining hope

Uses "declining" instead of "waning", indicating a downward trend in optimism.

shrinking hope

Replaces "waning" with "shrinking", conveying a reduction in the scope of hope.

dwindling hope

Substitutes "waning" with "dwindling", indicating a gradual decrease to a small amount.

evaporating hope

Uses "evaporating" to suggest a complete disappearance of hope.

vanishing hope

Replaces "waning" with "vanishing", conveying a sudden disappearance of hope.

receding hope

Substitutes "waning" with "receding", suggesting hope is moving further away.

dissipating hope

Uses "dissipating" to indicate hope is gradually scattering or fading away.

ebbing hope

Replaces "waning" with "ebbing", suggesting a gradual decline or reduction like a tide.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "waning hope" in a sentence?

Use "waning hope" to illustrate a gradual decrease in optimism regarding a specific situation. For example, "As the negotiations dragged on, their "waning hope" of reaching an agreement became apparent".

What's a more formal alternative to "waning hope"?

A more formal alternative would be "diminishing prospects". This phrase carries a similar meaning while sounding more professional and detached. Consider using "declining expectations" as well.

How does "waning hope" differ from "false hope"?

"Waning hope" describes a situation where initial optimism is decreasing over time. "False hope", on the other hand, refers to an unfounded or unrealistic sense of optimism from the beginning. While "waning hope" starts positively, "false hope" is misleading from the outset.

Is "waning hope" appropriate for positive situations?

No, "waning hope" is generally not suitable for positive situations. It's used to describe a decline in optimism due to negative or uncertain circumstances. If the situation is improving, phrases like "growing confidence" or "increasing optimism" would be more appropriate.