brokenhearted

American  

[broh-kuhn-hahr-tid] / ˈbroʊ kənˈhɑr tɪd /

adjective

1. burdened with great sorrow, grief, or disappointment.

   Synonyms:

   dejected, despondent, heartbroken, heartsick

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brokenhearted British  

/ ˌbrəʊkənˈhɑːtɪd /

adjective

1. overwhelmed by grief or disappointment

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Other Word Forms

• brokenheartedly adverb
• brokenheartedness noun

Etymology

Origin of brokenhearted

First recorded in 1520–30

Explanation

Are you so profoundly sad that it feels like a physical pain in your chest? You're brokenhearted. Someone might be brokenhearted about the death of a beloved cat or a falling out with an old friend. Another way to say brokenhearted is heartbroken. Either word is perfect for capturing the sensation that your heart has actually shattered from sorrow. It makes total sense to feel brokenhearted if your best friend snubs you or your favorite grandparent dies. This unhappy adjective has been around since the 1520s.

Example Sentences

The 63-year-old “Achy Breaky Heart” musician on Sunday penned a message of gratitude for “the California Rain” soaking the fire-ravaged state and said he was “praying for the brokenhearted and their pain.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2025

Cage is deeply affecting, hiding waves of rage and resentment under a steely-soft demeanor in a heartbreaking story about a brokenhearted human.

From New York Times • Apr. 26, 2023

Whether you’re brokenhearted or not, jajangmyeon is a recipe for comfort.

From Washington Post • Apr. 6, 2023

But Colman explained in a recent interview that costume designer Verity Hawkes wanted to portray the brokenhearted woman as rotting from the inside by darkening her hem to look like there's mold growing through it.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2023

Sadie’s Sandy June’s debut was a plan to soothe brokenhearted people who’d just heard about National Picnic’s new rules.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith