heartfelt
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of heartfelt
Explanation
If something is heartfelt, it's sincere and warm. It's clear from your elderly neighbor's heartfelt invitation that she genuinely wants you to come over for tea and cookies. When you're profoundly grateful to your favorite teacher, you'll offer her your heartfelt thanks. And when your best friend's dog dies, you'll give him your heartfelt sympathy. Things that are heartfelt are deeply emotional, believed or felt very strongly. The word dates from the 18th century, from heart, with its Old English root heorte, "heart, spirit, or mind."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Heartfelt without being cloying, this ad gets all the elements of its message of coming together right in ways that a similar ad from Spectrum couldn’t quite match.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2026
"Heartfelt thanks to everyone supporting Tesla, despite many attacks against our stores and offices," Musk wrote.
From BBC • Mar. 10, 2025
Heartfelt anime film explores love, loss and adventure.
From Washington Post • Apr. 14, 2023
Heartfelt compliments, or “words of affirmation” as Mr. Siegfried put it, go a long way, too.
From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2022
Heartfelt congratulations on acquisition of Temple site; notable achievement of World Crusade.
From Citadel of Faith by Shoghi Effendi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
