absolutely heartbreaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absolutely heartbreaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, event, or story that evokes strong feelings of sadness or distress. Example: "The news of the tragedy was absolutely heartbreaking, leaving the community in shock and mourning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

It's horrible, absolutely heartbreaking".

Independent

Onstage it's absolutely heartbreaking.

The New York Times - Arts

That's absolutely heartbreaking.

The Guardian

"It's been absolutely heartbreaking".

The New York Times - Magazine

He describes Magnitsky's death as "absolutely heartbreaking".

The Guardian

"When they tell you their stories, they are absolutely heartbreaking".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

It's utterly heartbreaking.

The Guardian

WORKING CLASS Then, traveling further down, we find the absolutely hopeless, minimum-wage-earning, heartbreaking (yet awe-inspiring in their capacity to expand the concept of "loser") worker ants.

Vice

But I wrote it also with the recognition that this has absolutely been going on for far too long, and it's heartbreaking.

Vice

I read Dave Eggers's book, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and thought the opening was absolutely devastating.

The Guardian - Books

"We absolutely wanted to make sure that it was necessary, because it was heartbreaking".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "absolutely heartbreaking" when you want to emphasize the intensity of sadness or sorrow evoked by a situation or event. For a more formal tone, consider "truly devastating" or "deeply sorrowful."

Common error

Avoid using "absolutely heartbreaking" to describe minor inconveniences or disappointments. Reserve it for situations that genuinely evoke profound sadness or empathy.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "absolutely heartbreaking" is as a compound adjective that modifies a noun. It intensifies the adjective "heartbreaking", describing something that causes immense sorrow or distress. It is used to express a strong emotional reaction, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "absolutely heartbreaking" is a commonly used compound adjective that conveys intense sorrow or distress. As verified by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and functions primarily to express empathy or elicit an emotional response. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts, although overuse in trivial situations should be avoided. While alternatives such as "utterly devastating" or "deeply sorrowful" can be used for nuance or formality, "absolutely heartbreaking" remains a potent and readily understood expression of profound sadness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuinely heartbreaking

Adds emphasis to the sincerity and authenticity of the heartbreak.

utterly devastating

Focuses more on the destructive impact of the event or situation.

truly devastating

Similar to utterly devastating, but with a slightly different tone.

heartrending

A more literary term for causing intense sorrow.

deeply sorrowful

Emphasizes the feeling of sorrow and sadness.

tragically sad

Highlights the tragic nature of the situation causing sadness.

exceptionally sad

Highlights the extreme level of sadness.

incredibly painful

Shifts the focus to the emotional pain experienced.

unbearably sad

Emphasizes the difficulty in enduring the sadness.

bitterly disappointing

Highlights the disappointment alongside the sadness.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "absolutely heartbreaking"?

You can use alternatives like "utterly devastating", "deeply sorrowful", or "genuinely heartbreaking" depending on the context.

How do I use "absolutely heartbreaking" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe events, stories, or situations that cause significant sadness or distress. For example, "The story of the refugees was absolutely heartbreaking."

Is "absolutely heartbreaking" formal or informal?

It's generally considered appropriate for both neutral and informal contexts. For more formal settings, consider using "deeply sorrowful".

What's the difference between "absolutely heartbreaking" and "extremely sad"?

"Absolutely heartbreaking" implies a deeper emotional impact and a greater sense of sorrow than "extremely sad", conveying a more intense feeling of grief or devastation.