heartbreaking
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
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.
He also blessed us with one of the most heartbreaking lines of this decade: “What is grief if not love persevering?”
From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026
The author of the novel “Alias O. Henry” on stories of hard-fought victory and heartbreaking loss in baseball’s Fall Classic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
President Asif Ali Zardari described the roof collapse as a "heartbreaking tragedy".
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
He said it had been "the most heartbreaking week of our lives" but that medical staff had helped make "special memories with our boy to keep forever".
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
Then they were silent again, for the idea of not having the ranch, the dry, stony desert of heartbreaking hillside and unprofitable hollow, was shocking to them.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
