heartbreaking news

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heartbreaking news" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe news that is very sad or distressing, often related to tragic events or situations. Example: "The community was devastated by the heartbreaking news of the local hero's passing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet, in the past twelve months, I've had tremendous (and unexpected) help from the young women at the university where I teach, who often respond to a new burst of heartbreaking news not with deep psychic exhaustion or rage but with righteous insistence optimism, almost that not one more woman should ever be made to feel powerless.

The New Yorker

I look back on my sobbing self that day and feel love and compassion for that new mom faced with heartbreaking news, already having to make tough choices for a baby who isn't even born yet.

HuffPost

He called it "heartbreaking news".

The New York Times

America woke up to heartbreaking news from Las Vegas.

The Washington Post

Heartbreaking news from Charleston - my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Independent

The trainer Shane McGuigan said on Twitter: "Heartbreaking news that Mike Towell has lost his life.

The Guardian - Sport

Heartbreaking news from America, where the creepy clown panic claims its highest-profile scalp.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Talk show host Seth Meyers added, "Heartbreaking news about Garry Shandling.

The Guardian

In heartbreaking news for this blog, Roland Lazenby did some research and found that Lakers' scout Chaz Osbourne is not, in fact, a bartender.

The Guardian - Sport

"These appeals are heartbreaking news for injured retired NFL players who will now be forced to wait many months longer for the care and financial support they desperately need," said Chris Seeger, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs.

The Guardian - Sport

Score: 4/5 Why you should listen: Following the heartbreaking news of Bowie's death, just days after his 69th birthday and the release of this album, there is no better time to listen to the sax, synths and clattering drums that hold together Blackstar's bold, jazz-indebted melodies.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "heartbreaking news", consider the audience and context. It's appropriate for conveying strong emotions related to significant negative events, but avoid overuse to maintain its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "heartbreaking news" in trivial or overly casual situations. It's best reserved for genuinely serious or tragic events to avoid sounding melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heartbreaking news" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "heartbreaking" modifies the noun "news". Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage in conveying deeply saddening information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heartbreaking news" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression for conveying deeply saddening information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it primarily functions to report or express events that evoke strong feelings of sorrow and distress. Predominantly found in neutral contexts such as news reports, it is advisable to reserve its use for genuinely serious events to maintain its intended emotional impact. Alternative phrases like "devastating news" or "tragic news" can be used to vary expression while maintaining a similar sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devastating news

Replaces "heartbreaking" with "devastating", emphasizing the destructive impact of the news.

tragic news

Uses "tragic" instead of "heartbreaking", focusing on the sorrowful nature of the events.

distressing news

Emphasizes the anxiety and worry caused by the news, rather than the sadness.

grievous news

A more formal and archaic way of saying "heartbreaking news", highlighting the severity of the sorrow.

crushing news

Highlights the overwhelming and oppressive nature of the information.

lamentable news

Focuses on the regrettable and unfortunate aspect of the news.

saddening news

A more straightforward and less intense way to express the feeling of sadness caused by the news.

unfortunate news

Downplays the emotional impact, focusing instead on the negative circumstances.

calamitous news

Stresses the disastrous and catastrophic nature of the events.

bitter news

Highlights the unpleasant and painful aspect of the information.

FAQs

How to use "heartbreaking news" in a sentence?

You can use "heartbreaking news" to describe events or situations that cause deep sorrow or distress. For example: "The community was shocked by the heartbreaking news of the accident."

What can I say instead of "heartbreaking news"?

You can use alternatives like "devastating news", "tragic news", or "distressing news" depending on the context.

Is "heartbreaking news" formal or informal?

"Heartbreaking news" is generally considered appropriate for neutral to semi-formal contexts, such as news reports or heartfelt announcements. However, it might be too intense for very casual conversations.

What's the difference between "heartbreaking news" and "sad news"?

"Heartbreaking news" implies a more profound and deeply felt sadness compared to "sad news", which is a more general expression of sorrow. "Heartbreaking news" is reserved for events that cause significant emotional pain.