heartbreaking
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- heartbreakingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of heartbreaking
First recorded in 1600–10; heartbreak + -ing 2
Explanation
Something that's deeply sad or distressing is heartbreaking, like the heartbreaking death of your beloved cat. Heartbreaking is the perfect word to describe a devastating feeling. When you lose someone you love, it feels like your heart is broken. Use this adjective for anything that causes you grief or sorrow, like the heartbreaking loss of an old tree in your yard or a glimpse of your crush holding hands with someone else. Other distressing events can feel heartbreaking too — even the loss of your favorite team in the playoffs: "What a heartbreaking defeat!"
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.
The scene is reminiscent of the heartbreaking moment in Peter Bogdanovich’s 1985 film “Mask” when a youth with a severe facial disfigurement discovered he looked normal in a funhouse mirror.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
It was a superb campaign as the Lionesses surpassed expectations before being eliminated in heartbreaking fashion as centre-half Laura Bassett's stoppage-time own goal settled the semi-final against Japan.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
It’s almost heartbreaking that a whole room full of people had to hear him feel bad and keep being furious.
From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026
“It’s heartbreaking because it’s a road sign that we are going backwards.”
From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026
It was a heartbreaking game, and the Dodgers lost.
From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord
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.
