hurtful message

USAGE SUMMARY

'hurtful message' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a message that was meant to be hurtful. For example: "He sent me a hurtful message that made me feel embarrassed and ashamed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

By focusing on race, I also sent the unintentional and hurtful message that our white fans are more valuable than our black fans.

The Washington Post

Last Sunday, the majority owner of the Atlanta Hawks announced that he would sell his stake in the N.B.A. franchise owing to an e-mail that he'd sent, in 2012, to members of his management team that, as he put it, contained "inflammatory nonsense" and "sent the unintentional and hurtful message that our white fans are more valuable than our black fans".

The New Yorker

What it does is that before anybody types anything about cyber bullying, ReThink will tell you, "Are you sure you want to give this message?" Ninety-three percent of the adolescents who used the app decided not to post the hurtful message after they had the opportunity to rethink.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Children as young as seven told ChildLine counsellors how they were being tormented and abused by malicious and hurtful messages from which they felt there was no escape.

The Guardian

Guinn and Martinez-Pandiani will seek advice from the Office for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, the Title IX Office, and the Office of BGLTQ Student Life to discuss next steps should any hurtful messages appear on the installation.

Harvard University

Schools can play an important role in this process by teaching kids how to interpret the new medium of text messaging, how to navigate social spaces, how to react to hurtful messages and whom to go to for advice and help.

The New York Times

He said his account had been used by someone else, and he apologized for any hurtful messages.

BBC

Mr Dinakar says the system could be used by social media sites to flag potentially hurtful messages before they are sent.

BBC

At the extreme it can even lead to suicide, such as in the case of 13-year-old Megan Meier, who hanged herself after receiving hurtful messages allegedly from a neighbor pretending to be a teen boy.

Forbes

In response to an incident where Prater-Haacke was left hurtful messages online, the teen put sticky notes with uplifting messages on her peers' lockers.

HuffPost

LGBTQ youth face unique challenges that can be compounded by intolerance -- even if the hurtful messages aren't directed to them personally.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "hurtful message", be specific about the context and impact. For instance, instead of just stating someone received a "hurtful message", elaborate on how it affected their feelings or actions.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "hurtful message" in a vague manner. Without specifics, it can lack impact. Provide details about the message's content or the situation surrounding it to enhance clarity and emotional resonance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hurtful message" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "hurtful" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "message". This phrase is generally used to describe a specific type of communication that causes emotional pain or distress, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hurtful message" describes a communication that causes emotional pain. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While relatively infrequent in the provided examples, it's commonly found in news and media contexts. Related phrases include "offensive communication" and "painful remark", offering nuanced alternatives depending on the specific impact you want to convey. When using the phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context to highlight the message's impact and avoid vagueness. Keep in mind that the register is mostly neutral, making it appropriate for various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cruel message

Replaces "hurtful" with "cruel", intensifying the negative impact of the message.

vicious note

Substitutes "message" with "note", implying a written message, and "hurtful" with "vicious", highlighting the malicious intent.

offensive communication

Replaces "message" with a broader term and "hurtful" with a synonym, focusing on the causing offense.

cutting remark

Replaces "message" with "remark", indicating a spoken or written statement, and "hurtful" with "cutting", emphasizing the sharp and painful nature.

damaging statement

Replaces "message" with "statement", referring to a formal declaration, and "hurtful" with "damaging", stressing the potential harm.

painful remark

Substitutes "message" with "remark", indicating a spoken or written statement, and "hurtful" with "painful", emphasizing the emotional distress caused.

insensitive message

Replaces "hurtful" with "insensitive", focusing on the lack of consideration for others' feelings.

unkind communication

Replaces "hurtful" with "unkind", softening the negative impact of the message.

unpleasant notification

Replaces "message" with "notification", implying a formal communication, and "hurtful" with "unpleasant", softening the negative connotation.

distressing information

Changes "message" to "information", focusing on the content, and "hurtful" to "distressing", highlighting the anxiety caused.

FAQs

What does "hurtful message" mean?

A "hurtful message" is a communication, either written or spoken, that causes emotional pain or distress to the recipient. It is intended to wound or upset the person receiving it.

How can I use "hurtful message" in a sentence?

You can use "hurtful message" in a sentence like this: "She received a "hurtful message" that ruined her day."

What can I say instead of "hurtful message"?

You can use alternatives like "offensive communication", "painful remark", or "distressing information" depending on the context.

Is "hurtful message" the same as "offensive message"?

While similar, ""hurtful message"" emphasizes the emotional pain caused, whereas "offensive message" focuses on the violation of standards of decency or politeness.