this is totally devastating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this is totally devastating" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express strong emotional distress or disappointment about a situation or event. Example: "Hearing about the loss of the historic building in the fire, I can only say that this is totally devastating for our community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"The NSW greyhound industry is probably the biggest in the country, and this is totally devastating for anyone who relies on it for their livelihoods, there are people who have been doing this for 50 years.

The Guardian

"This is totally devastating," she added.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

When a dear friend gets diagnosed with cancer it is totally devastating.

Huffington Post

Reba is totally devastated by this.

Wikipedia

His family is totally devastated and inundated in sorrow," said the family member, who asked not to be identified.

The Guardian

"So my family life and my social life is totally devastated".

BBC

The affects of this crime can be totally devastating on the lives of its victims.

Vice

But the cuts are not nearly as bad as raising the Medicare age, for two reasons: the structure of the program remains intact, and unlike the Medicare age thing, they wouldn't be totally devastating for hundreds of thousands of people, just somewhat painful for a much larger group.

The New York Times

It wa­s one of those haircuts so minor that no one would even notice, but to me it was totally devastating.

Vice

"This is totally out of order, I am totally devastated.

The Guardian

In the Sun Dyer, who has presented a number of TV shows and featured in nearly 30 films, was reported as saying: "This is totally out of order, I am totally devastated.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine the phrase with concrete details to amplify the emotional resonance. For instance, "The closure of the local library is totally devastating, especially for the children who depend on its resources."

Common error

Avoid using "this is totally devastating" for minor inconveniences or disappointments. This dilutes its impact and can make your writing sound hyperbolic. Reserve it for situations of genuine significant loss or tragedy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this is totally devastating" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a strong negative assessment of a situation. Examples on Ludwig show it used in contexts of personal loss, industry collapse, and natural disasters, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment of correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this is totally devastating" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express strong emotional distress or disappointment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, although its frequency is relatively rare. The phrase commonly appears in News & Media, often describing situations of loss or tragedy. When writing, it's important to consider the context and avoid overuse. Consider alternative phrases such as "this is incredibly tragic" if a slightly different nuance is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this is incredibly tragic

Emphasizes the sorrow and misfortune associated with an event, highlighting its heartbreaking nature.

this is genuinely heartbreaking

Emphasizes the emotional pain and empathy evoked by the situation, focusing on its ability to cause sadness.

this is utterly ruinous

Emphasizes the destructive consequences, focusing on the complete destruction caused by something.

this is exceptionally dire

Focuses on the extremely serious and urgent nature of the situation, highlighting the potential for negative outcomes.

this is completely shattering

Focuses on the emotional impact, highlighting the breaking or fracturing of one's emotional state.

this is absolutely crushing

Highlights the overwhelming nature of the situation, suggesting a sense of being weighed down or defeated.

this is wholly calamitous

Highlights the disastrous nature of the situation, suggesting widespread damage and suffering.

this is exceptionally grievous

Indicates severe or serious consequences, often implying a significant loss or pain.

this is supremely regrettable

Highlights the feeling of deep sorrow or remorse regarding the situation, emphasizing the wish that it had not happened.

this is supremely unfortunate

Downplays the severity slightly, focusing on the bad luck or chance involved in the situation.

FAQs

What does "this is totally devastating" mean?

The phrase "this is totally devastating" expresses a strong feeling of shock, sadness, and ruin caused by a particular event or situation. It indicates that something has had a profound and negative impact.

How can I use "this is totally devastating" in a sentence?

You can use "this is totally devastating" to describe situations like natural disasters, personal losses, or significant setbacks. For example, "The news about the factory closing /s/this+is+absolutely+crushing for the town".

What are some alternatives to "this is totally devastating"?

Alternatives include "this is incredibly tragic", "this is absolutely crushing", or "this is completely shattering", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "this is totally devastating" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "this is totally devastating" may be perceived as too emotional for some formal contexts. Consider using a more restrained phrase like "this is extremely unfortunate" or /s/this+is+supremely+regrettable in formal writing.