heartrending

[hahrt-ren-ding]

adjective

1. causing or expressing intense grief, anguish, or distress.

Other Word Forms

• heartrendingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of heartrending¹

First recorded in 1680–90; heart + rending ( def. )

Example Sentences

Speaking of debilitating nostalgia, this one might feel a bit out of place in this album’s universe, but it’s a heartrending gem nonetheless.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s a heartrending, nervous-laughter scene: Are they sincere without being desperate?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The rubble of the struck set for the Baxter home in that movie, a fully laid-out, purpose-built filming environment, is particularly heartrending: through Lanthimos’ still lens, it looks like it was hit by a tornado.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Pensive, melodic, uplifting, and heartrending – it's his best album yet.

Read more on BBC

She delicately balances steeliness and vulnerability to deliver a heartrending performance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agonizing 
• distressing www.thesaurus.com
• excruciating 
• harrowing 
• heart-wrenching 
• heartbreaking 
• sad 
• touching 
• tragic