miserable news

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "miserable news" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe news that is very disappointing or upsetting. Example: "After hearing the results of the election, I was left with nothing but miserable news that affected my mood for the rest of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

An apt invocation, certainly, during a week of miserable news on Wall Street — so many ignoble successes and profane gains!

The New Yorker

"Double digit house price inflation is miserable news and wipes out government efforts on affordable housing.

The Guardian - Money

That Nintendo should release this thing now, in 2016, a year blighted with miserable news, is fortuitous and somehow beautiful.

The Guardian - Tech

Last Thursday began with typically miserable news for northern travellers, with three services cancelled for the same, infuriating reason: "due to a member of train crew becoming unavailable".

The Guardian

Alex Hilton, director of the campaign group Generation Rent, said the price rises faced by prospective first-time buyers were "miserable news".

The Guardian - Money

The millions of people who have clung on to mortgage endowment policies received more miserable news this week, with many insurers cutting payouts despite the rising stock market.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The administration would no doubt blame this judgment on the steady stream of miserable economic news.

The New York Times

More "turns out the UK is really quite miserable and/or shit" news today: a new report has found that Britain ranks as the third most meddlesome country when it comes to controlling and regulating the private lives of its citizens, just behind those killjoys Finland and Sweden.

Vice

But their greeting of the Monty news was miserable in the extreme.

The Guardian

MELBOURNE, Australia — The reassuring news on a miserable afternoon for Li Na was that one actually can forget these moments.

The New York Times - Sports

Updated at 10.51am BST 3.27pm BST Clegg says Labour are miserable when there is good news on the economy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "miserable news", ensure the context clearly indicates why the news is considered negative or upsetting. Provide specific details or examples to illustrate the impact of the news on individuals or situations.

Common error

While "miserable news" is appropriate for formal and neutral reporting, avoid overusing it in casual conversation. Opt for more conversational alternatives like "bummer" or "downer" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "miserable news" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "miserable" modifies the noun "news". It is primarily used to describe information that causes distress, disappointment, or unhappiness. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples from various news and media sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "miserable news" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase, particularly in news and media contexts, to describe distressing or disappointing information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous real-world examples. While "miserable news" is generally acceptable, writers should be mindful of the emotional weight it carries and consider alternatives such as "unfortunate news" or "disappointing news" depending on the desired tone and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfortunate news

Replaces "miserable" with "unfortunate", focusing on the luck aspect rather than the emotional impact.

distressing news

Replaces "miserable" with "distressing", highlighting the anxiety-inducing nature of the information.

depressing news

Replaces "miserable" with "depressing", emphasizing the disheartening effect of the information.

bad tidings

Uses a more archaic and formal term for "news", emphasizing the negative nature of the information.

unpleasant news

Replaces "miserable" with "unpleasant", softening the emotional impact while still conveying negativity.

grim news

Replaces "miserable" with "grim", highlighting the bleak and hopeless nature of the information.

discouraging news

Replaces "miserable" with "discouraging", focusing on the loss of hope or motivation caused by the information.

disheartening information

Replaces "news" with "information", offering a more general term while maintaining the negative connotation.

bleak update

Replaces "miserable" with "bleak" and "news" with "update", giving a slightly more modern feel.

awful revelations

Uses a stronger emotional descriptor and replaces "news" with "revelations", emphasizing the shocking nature of the information.

FAQs

How can I use "miserable news" in a sentence?

You can use "miserable news" to describe events or situations that cause unhappiness or distress. For example, "The company announced "miserable news" about layoffs." or "The doctor delivered "miserable news" regarding the patient's prognosis."

What are some alternatives to saying "miserable news"?

You can use alternatives like "unfortunate news", "distressing news", or "depressing news" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use the phrase "miserable news"?

While grammatically correct, "miserable news" carries a strong negative connotation. Consider your audience and the context before using it. In some situations, a more neutral phrase like "disappointing news" may be more suitable.

What's the difference between ""miserable news"" and "bad news"?

"Bad news" is a more general term for any unfavorable information. "Miserable news" implies a deeper sense of unhappiness, suffering, or despair caused by the news.