heartbreaking romance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heartbreaking romance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a love story that evokes strong feelings of sadness or emotional pain. Example: "The novel tells a heartbreaking romance that leaves readers in tears by the end."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Equally crucial in Jack's passage to manhood is a heartbreaking romance with an aloof society woman.

The New Yorker

After living the swinging 1960s to their immoderate fullest — dirty dancing at Castel's in Paris, skiing holidays in Cortina, orgies in Rome, a heartbreaking romance with Hollywood (Sandra Dee was to play Ms. Tiel in a movie of her life that never materialized) — Ms. Tiel flourished as a designer in the '70s.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

JS See this if you liked... Straight, No Chaser 49 Jeremy Arthur Barron, 1973 Like falling in love for the first time, this wonderful, heartbreaking, teen romance won 'Best First Work' at Cannes.

The Guardian - Film

Instead, this year in secondary schools the most popular title was John Green's tale of a heartbreaking teenage romance, The Fault in Our Stars, followed by two dystopian stories: Suzanne Collins's Catching Fire, from the Hunger Games series, and Veronica Roth's Divergent, set in a world where people are classified according to their personality traits.

The Guardian - Books

The book reconstructs Praskovia's stage career as "The Pearl" and the heartbreaking details of her romance with Nicholas years of torment before their secret marriage, the outrage of the aristocracy when news of the marriage emerged, Praskovia's death only days after delivering a son, and the unyielding despair that followed Nicholas to the end of his life.

Yale University

The affectingly beautiful scenes include children playing in the nooks and crannies of buildings and a heartbreaking moment of thwarted romance, when the hero refuses to respond to the fervent embraces of his wife as they dance to Dinah Washington's "This Bitter Earth".

The New Yorker

On Sunday we saw James Ivory win his very first Oscar, for adapted screenplay, for the gorgeous yet heartbreaking coming-of-age romance Call Me By Your Name.

BBC

According to Los Angeles radio station Power 106, Brown revealed that he and RiRi have split after rekindling their romance following that heartbreaking 2009 Grammys incident.

HuffPost

Yet this "immense homeland of heartbreaking beauty" is not without love, romance, nor hope.

Independent

The perfect misunderstanding is as heartbreaking as it is standard-issue in real-life romance.Most of Ms Boylan's protagonists fall somewhere between eccentric and batty.

The Economist

One of those was Cibele – the heartbreaking, semi-autobiographical tale of the developer Nina Freeman's online romance and subsequent rejection.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heartbreaking romance" to describe a love story where the sadness and emotional pain are central themes, creating a strong impact on the audience or reader.

Common error

While "heartbreaking romance" is a valid descriptor, avoid overusing it, especially if the romance contains other significant elements such as adventure or comedy. Instead, consider alternative phrases or more nuanced descriptions to capture the complexity of the story.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heartbreaking romance" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. The adjective "heartbreaking" describes the quality of the "romance", indicating that it is filled with sorrow and emotional pain. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heartbreaking romance" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, denoting a love story characterized by significant sadness and emotional distress. While not extremely common, it is employed in contexts such as news, media, and academia to convey the tragic or deeply moving aspects of a romantic relationship. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. When using this phrase, remember that its impact lies in its ability to evoke strong emotional responses, so ensure the context aligns with this intended effect. Alternatives like "tragic love story" or "poignant romance" may be considered for variety or nuanced emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tragic love story

Emphasizes the unfortunate and sorrowful outcome of the romantic relationship.

poignant romance

Highlights the touching and deeply affecting nature of the romance.

bittersweet love affair

Combines elements of happiness and sadness in the romantic experience.

doomed love

Focuses on the inevitable failure and despair associated with the love.

ill-fated romance

Suggests that the romance was destined for misfortune and unhappiness.

unhappy love story

Directly indicates the lack of joy and fulfillment in the romantic relationship.

romance filled with sorrow

Explicitly states the presence of sadness and grief within the romantic narrative.

love story ending in tragedy

Highlights the catastrophic conclusion of the love story.

heart-wrenching love

Focuses on the intense emotional pain caused by the love.

tearjerker romance

Emphasizes that the romance will make people cry.

FAQs

How can I use "heartbreaking romance" in a sentence?

You can use "heartbreaking romance" to describe a love story filled with sadness and emotional pain. For example: "The novel tells a "heartbreaking romance" that leaves readers in tears by the end."

What are some alternatives to "heartbreaking romance"?

You can use alternatives like "tragic love story", "poignant romance", or "bittersweet love affair" depending on the context.

What distinguishes a "heartbreaking romance" from a typical romance?

A "heartbreaking romance" is defined by its strong emphasis on sadness, loss, and emotional suffering, often leading to a tragic or deeply moving conclusion, unlike typical romances which may focus more on joy and fulfillment.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "heartbreaking romance"?

It's most fitting in contexts such as literary analysis, film reviews, or personal narratives where the emotional impact of a tragic love story is being discussed or emphasized.