feel heartbroken

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feel heartbroken" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing deep emotional pain or sadness, typically after a romantic relationship ends or due to a significant loss. Example: "After the breakup, I couldn't help but feel heartbroken for weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"I feel heartbroken.

The New York Times

** I used to feel heartbroken at my own birthday parties.

The New Yorker

"As one who has worked in archaeology for a lifetime, I feel heartbroken".

The New York Times - Arts

About a month into the semester, she said, a painful episode between her and a boy she was seeing became campus gossip, making her feel heartbroken and exposed.

The New York Times - Magazine

I feel heartbroken for those disenfranchised Americans who voted for Trump, not because of his divisive rhetoric, but in spite of it.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I still feel heartbroken to remember that the deceased was desperately pleading for his life," Mr. Roh said in a television address, recalling the video images broadcast here that showed Mr. Kim crying, "I don't want to die".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

She still has feelings, she'll still have fallen in love, and she'll still have felt heartbroken.

WikiHow

"I've never had one which ended that I felt heartbroken and consumed by.

The Guardian - Film

"I felt heartbroken that we still need to choose war in this day and age," she said.

The New York Times

We assumed she was dead, and I felt heartbroken; she had saved us but died in the process.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The 23-year-old pop star admits she felt heartbroken when she realised someone in her own family could use her for their own personal gain.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feel heartbroken" to express a deep sense of sadness, particularly after a loss or disappointment. Be mindful of the context, as it conveys a strong emotional impact.

Common error

Avoid using "feel heartbroken" too frequently in your writing. Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "feel devastated", "feel crushed", or "experience profound sorrow" to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel heartbroken" functions as a verb phrase expressing a state of emotional distress. As indicated by Ludwig, it describes the experience of profound sadness or grief. The examples show its use in expressing personal loss, disappointment, and empathy for others' suffering.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

12%

Huffington Post

38%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "feel heartbroken" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to express a deep sense of sadness or grief, particularly after a loss or disappointment. According to Ludwig, the expression is suitable for use in neutral contexts such as news articles, personal blogs, and everyday conversations. While fairly common, it's wise to vary your vocabulary and avoid overuse by considering synonyms like "feel devastated" or "experience profound sorrow". Be mindful of context to accurately convey the depth of the emotion you wish to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel a deep sense of loss

Highlights the feeling of emptiness and longing associated with heartbreak.

be deeply saddened

A more straightforward way of expressing feeling very sad.

feel crushed

Uses a more forceful term to describe the emotional impact.

experience profound sorrow

Replaces "feel" with "experience" and "heartbroken" with a more formal term for sadness.

be emotionally devastated

Emphasizes the destructive impact of the sadness on one's emotional state.

feel grief-stricken

Highlights the intensity and all-consuming nature of the grief.

be overcome with grief

Emphasizes the intensity of the sadness, suggesting a state of being overwhelmed.

suffer a painful loss

Focuses on the cause of the heartbreak, highlighting the experience of losing something important.

feel desolate

Conveys a sense of emptiness, abandonment, and profound sadness.

be inconsolable

Suggests an inability to be comforted or cheered up.

FAQs

How can I use "feel heartbroken" in a sentence?

You can use "feel heartbroken" to express a deep sense of sadness or grief, often after a loss or disappointment. For example, "After the breakup, I couldn't help but "feel heartbroken" for weeks."

What can I say instead of "feel heartbroken"?

You can use alternatives like "feel devastated", "feel crushed", or "feel a deep sense of loss" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "felt heartbroken" or "feel heartbroken"?

"Felt heartbroken" is the past tense form, used to describe a past experience of heartbreak. "Feel heartbroken" is the present tense, used to describe a current feeling. Choose the form that matches the time frame you're discussing.

What is the difference between "feel sad" and "feel heartbroken"?

"Feel sad" is a general expression of unhappiness, while "feel heartbroken" implies a more profound and intense emotional pain, typically associated with loss or romantic disappointment. "Feel sad" is a milder emotion than "feel heartbroken".