terrible love

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "terrible love" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a love that is intense but also fraught with difficulties or pain. Example: "Their relationship was a terrible love, filled with passion but also constant conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

A terrible love.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Matsoukas denied that the resemblance was intentional, saying only that the video "was based on my terrible love life and obviously her terrible love life and every woman's terrible love life".

The New Yorker

Rodolfo has a fine, modulated voice and melancholy eyes — he is given to nobly romantic sentiments and the recitation of terrible love poetry — but he appears tired.

The New Yorker

Alexander McQueen's designs strike me with such terrible love, I avoid the place — it crowbars the knees of my financial intelligence.

The New York Times

But, more crucially, they were exposed to the limelight by the release of their sensational High Violet, which opens with the distorted loveliness of "Terrible Love", with the pleading exhortation "It takes an ocean not to break".

Independent

He is the author of more than twenty books translated into twenty five languages including a number one best seller, "The Soul's Code," and his opus, "A Terrible Love of War".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

They described terrible first-love experiences".

Independent

That movie was terrible I loved it.

The Guardian - Opinion

From my own experience, I know I am terrible at loving others.

The New York Times

In the end, we learn what holds families together and what tears them apart... and that the terrible loss of loved ones never leaves us, but may be accepted and managed so that life can go on.

Huffington Post

I can't help that love terrible movies, and especially terrible movie franchises.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "terrible love" to convey a love that is both intense and deeply flawed, marked by significant challenges or pain. It is suitable for dramatic or literary contexts where emotional complexity is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "terrible love" in everyday conversations or light-hearted contexts. Its intensity and negative connotations can sound overly dramatic or inappropriate if the situation doesn't warrant such strong language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terrible love" functions primarily as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. It describes a specific type of love characterized by its negative or destructive qualities. Ludwig AI shows that it is used to express a love fraught with pain, conflict or overwhelming intensity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "terrible love" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a love that is both intense and fraught with challenges, pain, or destructive elements. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suitability for describing complex relationships. It's frequently found in News & Media contexts, indicating its widespread use in describing real-world and fictional relationships. While its intensity makes it unsuitable for casual contexts, it effectively conveys emotional depth in literary and dramatic settings. Alternatives like "destructive love", "painful love", and "toxic love" can be used to emphasize specific aspects of this complex emotion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

destructive love

Replaces "terrible" with "destructive", emphasizing the damaging nature of the love.

toxic love

Replaces "terrible" with "toxic", indicating a love that is harmful and poisonous.

heartbreaking love

Replaces "terrible" with "heartbreaking", accentuating the sorrow and grief associated with the love.

painful love

Substitutes "terrible" with "painful", highlighting the emotional suffering associated with the love.

tormented love

Substitutes "terrible" with "tormented", focusing on the internal conflict and suffering within the love.

bitter love

Replaces "terrible" with "bitter", focusing on the resentment and disappointment mixed with affection.

agonizing love

Changes "terrible" to "agonizing", emphasizing the torment and distress caused by the love.

consuming love

Shifts from "terrible" to "consuming", indicating a love that dominates and overwhelms.

troubled love

Substitutes "terrible" with "troubled", highlighting the problematic and uneasy aspects of the love.

difficult love

Replaces "terrible" with "difficult", softening the intensity while still suggesting challenges.

FAQs

How can I use "terrible love" in a sentence?

You can use "terrible love" to describe a relationship characterized by both intense affection and significant suffering. For example, "Their relationship was a "terrible love", filled with passion but also constant conflict."

What's a less intense way to describe a challenging relationship?

Instead of "terrible love", consider alternatives like "difficult love" or "troubled love", which convey the challenges without the same level of negativity.

Is "terrible love" always negative?

While "terrible" has negative connotations, "terrible love" can also describe a love that is all-consuming or overwhelming in its intensity, not necessarily evil, but difficult. The context determines its precise meaning.

What are some synonyms for "terrible love" that emphasize its damaging effects?

Consider using phrases like "destructive love", "toxic love", or "painful love" to highlight the harmful aspects of the relationship.