bleeding heart

American  

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Dicentra, of the fumitory family, especially D. spectabilis, a common garden plant having long, one-sided clusters of rose or red heart-shaped flowers.

2. a person who makes an ostentatious or excessive display of pity or concern for others.

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bleeding heart British  

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Dicentra , esp the widely cultivated Japanese species D. spectabilis , which has finely divided leaves and heart-shaped nodding pink flowers: family Fumariaceae

2. informal

   1. a person who is excessively softhearted

   2. ( as modifier )

      a bleeding-heart liberal

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bleeding-heart
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of bleeding heart

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

To the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, it represents the bleeding heart of their creator, Mukat.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2024

But caregivers have a constant bleeding heart, Rice said, even if that means taking a job that pays less than working at a fast-food restaurant.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2022

As “Valentine” so poignantly illustrates, the surest route out of a terrible feeling is straight through its bleeding heart.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2021

“She was a symbol. She was mocked. She was looked upon by a lot of people as a prototypical liberal and bleeding heart, and she is that unapologetically.”

From Washington Post • May 11, 2021

The big red splotch on my shirt looked like a real bleeding heart.

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos