heart breaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heart breaking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something sad or tragic, as in the sentence "It was a heart-breaking moment when the family had to say goodbye to their beloved pet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

My heart, breaking.

The New York Times

"It was heart breaking.

BBC

Heart breaking.

Vice

Nothing was heart breaking.

Huffington Post

This is heart breaking.

Huffington Post

Heart breaking https://t.co/EdsyYCgjLo.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Your heart breaks".

The New York Times - Sports

Is your heart broken?

The New Yorker

"My heart breaks".

The New York Times

Another heart breaks".

The New York Times - Health

My heart breaks for him".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heart breaking" to describe situations or events that evoke deep sadness, grief, or a sense of loss. Ensure the context clearly supports the intensity of the emotion conveyed.

Common error

Avoid using "heart breaking" to describe minor inconveniences or disappointments. Reserve it for truly significant emotional impacts to maintain its strength and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heart breaking" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that causes intense sadness or emotional pain. Ludwig examples show its use across various contexts, consistently conveying deep sorrow.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heart breaking" is a powerful adjective used to describe situations that cause significant emotional pain or sorrow. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in News & Media. While "heart breaking" is suitable for formal writing, it should be used judiciously to maintain its impact and avoid overuse in minor situations. Related phrases, such as "deeply saddening" or "extremely upsetting", can offer alternatives for varying levels of emotional intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unbearably sad

Highlights the inability to endure the sadness.

deeply saddening

Replaces the metaphor with a more direct description of the feeling.

tragically affecting

Directly states the impact of the tragedy.

extremely upsetting

Focuses on the emotional impact of the situation.

crushingly disappointing

Emphasizes the intensity of the disappointment and the feeling of being crushed.

poignantly moving

Highlights the emotional and touching nature of the situation, often with a sense of sadness.

profoundly distressing

Emphasizes the intensity of the distress caused.

grievously painful

Highlights the pain and sorrow involved.

bitterly disappointing

Highlights the disappointment aspect of the situation.

woefully inadequate

Focuses on the feeling of inadequacy and the sorrow it creates.

FAQs

How can I use "heart breaking" in a sentence?

Use "heart breaking" to describe events or situations that cause significant emotional pain or sadness. For example, "The news of the accident was truly heart breaking".

What are some synonyms for "heart breaking"?

Alternatives include "deeply saddening", "extremely upsetting", or "tragically affecting" depending on the context.

Is "heart breaking" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "heart breaking" is suitable for formal writing as long as the context warrants the strong emotional tone. Choose synonyms like "profoundly distressing" for a more subdued tone.

What's the difference between "heart breaking" and "disappointing"?

"Heart breaking" describes a deep emotional pain or grief, while "disappointing" refers to a feeling of unmet expectations or mild sadness. A canceled vacation might be disappointing, but the loss of a loved one is heart breaking.