epidemic of loneliness
- noun
- /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk əv ˈloʊnlinəs/
- Literature
:
epidemia de soledad
- Experts warn that the rise of social media is contributing to an epidemic of loneliness among young adults who crave real connections.
So we have a epidemic of loneliness and sexlessness amongst the sexes.
- So we have a epidemic of loneliness and sexlessness amongst the sexes.
Examples
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During the pandemic, an epidemic of loneliness swept through the community, leaving many feeling abandoned and without support.
-
The town has been struggling with an epidemic of loneliness, as many residents feel isolated and disconnected from one another.
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So we have a epidemic of loneliness and sexlessness amongst the sexes.
Synonyms
172
3.7
A state of being alone and cut off from other people physically or emotionally
141
2.3
A sad feeling when you are alone and feel separate from others
30
7.4
Feeling of being alone and separate from other people
A situation where a person has no friends and feels lonely
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
epidemic + of + loneliness
The phrase simply combines 'epidemic' (a widespread condition) with 'loneliness' (social isolation), so its meaning — widespread or rapidly increasing loneliness — is directly derivable from the constituents. The use of 'epidemic' metaphorically for social problems is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the component words would readily understand this usage.
Etymology
Epidemic of loneliness comes from the image of an epidemic, a fast-spreading illness, and loneliness moving through a town like a sickness, so many people 'feel alone' at the same time.