devastating to hear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devastating to hear" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing strong emotional impact or sadness about receiving bad news or distressing information. Example: "When I learned about the accident, it was truly devastating to hear that so many lives were affected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"It was devastating to hear that," said the passenger, Liz Willock, in an interview with People magazine.

The Guardian - Sport

His recording that day of "Lover Man" was a technical mess — Parker was barely able to make it through the song — but it is a painful howl, as devastating to hear as Billie Holiday's last sessions.

The New Yorker

"It was devastating to hear that," Willock told People.

Huffington Post

As anyone who has heard those words knows, it was devastating to hear.

Huffington Post

While Lively says she never personally experienced or witnessed Weinstein acting inappropriately, she called the various testimonies "devastating to hear". .

Huffington Post

I know fed is best but that doesn't make it any less devastating to hear those words when you had your heart set on breastfeeding.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

So devastated to hear Katie has passed away.

Independent

I'm devastated to hear of Wes's passing.

The Guardian - Film

He added: "I'm devastated to hear this news.

The Guardian

I am devastated to hear of your loss.

The New York Times

I'm utterly devastated to hear the sad news.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devastating to hear" to express a strong emotional reaction to bad news, ensuring the context clearly indicates the source and impact of the news.

Common error

Avoid using "devastating to hear" for trivial matters. Reserve it for genuinely impactful or tragic news to maintain its emotional weight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devastating to hear" functions as an emotional response or reaction to news, primarily expressing the degree of distress or sadness experienced. Examples from Ludwig, such as news reports or personal anecdotes, illustrate this function.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devastating to hear" is used to express profound sadness or distress upon receiving news, as confirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically correct, its frequency is relatively rare. The phrase is primarily found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, where it conveys empathy or sorrow. When writing, remember to reserve "devastating to hear" for truly impactful situations to maintain its emotional weight. Consider alternatives such as ""heartbreaking to hear"" or ""distressing to learn"" for similar but slightly varied expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Heartbreaking to hear

Emphasizes the emotional pain caused by the news.

Distressing to learn

Focuses on the troubling nature of the information received.

Saddening to find out

Highlights the feeling of sadness upon discovering the news.

Upsetting to discover

Indicates a feeling of disturbance or unease.

Disappointing to learn

Implies a feeling of letdown upon hearing the news.

Shocking to find out

Focuses on the surprising and unsettling nature of the information.

Regrettable to hear

Emphasizes the feeling of regret associated with the news.

Unfortunate to learn

Highlights the bad luck or misfortune associated with the news.

Miserable to hear

Emphasizes the feeling of unhappiness.

Depressing to learn

Highlights the feeling of low spirits caused by the news.

FAQs

What does "devastating to hear" mean?

The phrase "devastating to hear" expresses that certain news has caused significant distress, grief, or emotional pain.

What can I say instead of "devastating to hear"?

You can use alternatives like "heartbreaking to hear", "distressing to learn", or "saddening to find out" depending on the context.

How do I use "devastating to hear" in a sentence?

You can use "devastating to hear" when reacting to bad news. For example, "It was devastating to hear about the accident" or "I found it devastating to hear about the layoffs".

Is "devastating to hear" formal or informal?

"Devastating to hear" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal, suitable for most news and professional contexts while still expressing strong emotion. Alternatives can be adapted for more informal settings.