wave of guilt

USAGE SUMMARY

"wave of guilt" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe the feeling of strong remorse or regret that suddenly washes over someone. Example: As she read his apology letter, a wave of guilt crashed over her, reminding her of all the hurtful things she had said to him.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Vice

Huffington Post

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

A wave of guilt washed over me.

The New York Times

A wave of guilt washes over Govan.

The Washington Post

There are no aliens; there is not even a Freudian wave of guilt driving the monster.

The New Yorker

I feel an immense wave of guilt.

Vice

To learn that they would be integrated into the community brought with it a wave of guilt and sorrow about the years they'd been shut away.

Vice

Some days, as the car falls quiet, it starts - that crushing wave of guilt, frustration, despair that I believe many mothers can relate.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Post-colonial immigrations have inspired waves of guilt and blame.

The New York Times - Arts

A LONG NIGHT Waves of guilt and anger swept over the mother.

The New York Times - Magazine

When his memory and empathy returned two years later, "I was inundated with waves and waves and waves of guilt," he said.

The New York Times

A Mother's Guilt Waves of guilt, shame and anger swept over the mother as she heard what had happened.

The New York Times

Why then the waves of guilt — worse than if I had been glued to more garden-variety miscreants?

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wave of guilt" to vividly describe a sudden, overwhelming feeling of regret or responsibility, often triggered by a specific event or realization. This metaphor adds emotional weight to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "wave of guilt" to describe mild or fleeting feelings of regret. The phrase implies a significant emotional impact and should be reserved for situations where the guilt is intense and pervasive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wave of guilt" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It vividly describes the experience of being overwhelmed by a sudden and intense feeling of guilt. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Vice

10%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wave of guilt" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that effectively conveys a sudden, intense feeling of remorse, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While its usage is not as common as simpler expressions of guilt, it adds a vivid, metaphorical layer to writing. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, the phrase paints a picture of being overwhelmed by guilt, suitable for describing significant emotional impacts. When using "wave of guilt", remember to reserve it for situations where the feeling is genuinely powerful and sudden, distinguishing it from mere regret.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surge of guilt

Replaces "wave" with "surge", indicating a sudden, powerful rush of guilt.

flood of guilt

Uses "flood" instead of "wave" to convey a similar image of being overwhelmed by guilt.

pang of guilt

Substitutes "wave" with "pang", suggesting a sharp, sudden feeling of guilt, often less intense than a wave.

wash of guilt

Employs "wash" in place of "wave", depicting a gentle yet pervasive feeling of guilt.

feeling of remorse

Replaces the entire phrase with a more general expression of regret and sorrow for wrongdoing.

remorseful feeling

Replaces the phrase with a simpler expression of feeling deep regret for a wrongdoing.

twinge of conscience

Implies a slight feeling of guilt or regret, often related to moral considerations.

attack of conscience

Suggests a sudden and strong feeling of guilt that prompts reflection on one's actions.

burden of guilt

Emphasizes the weight and oppressiveness of feeling guilty.

sense of culpability

Replaces the phrase with a more formal term for feeling responsible for something bad.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "wave of guilt" in a sentence?

Use "wave of guilt" to describe a sudden and intense feeling of remorse that washes over someone. For instance, "A "wave of guilt" washed over her as she remembered her promise".

What are some alternatives to "wave of guilt"?

You could use phrases like "surge of guilt", "pang of guilt", or "feeling of remorse" depending on the intensity you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "wave of guilt" in formal writing?

While "wave of guilt" is widely understood, consider the tone of your writing. In very formal contexts, a more neutral phrase like "sense of culpability" might be more suitable.

How does "wave of guilt" differ from "feeling guilty"?

"Feeling guilty" is a general state, while ""wave of guilt"" describes a specific, sudden onset of intense guilt, much like a wave crashing over someone.