heart-wrenching
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of heart-wrenching
First recorded in 1835–40; heart ( def. ) + wrench ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. )
Explanation
If something is terribly sad, it's heart-wrenching. Your best friend might think Romeo and Juliet is ridiculous, but you're not alone if you find the tragic ending absolutely heart-wrenching. Heart-wrenching is a perfect way to describe something that's so sad it feels like your heart has been permanently damaged — wrenched or twisted by grief. You might also call it "heartbreaking" or "heartrending," words that also attempt to capture a sense of despair or sorrow. A heart-wrenching movie leaves you weeping at the end, and the sudden loss of your wonderful dog is heart-wrenching for the whole family.
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.
It was as poignant and heart-wrenching as anything he said in the whole interview about “John Wick 3,” the film he was there to promote.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
Medvedev was outplayed by Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final before a heart-wrenching defeat to Rafael Nadal a year later.
From Barron's ● Jan. 25, 2026
Time and again, Ann’s hope is met with heart-wrenching pain, and to hear Seyfried’s angelic voice laced with her character’s despair is quite unlike anything I have ever experienced watching a film, musical or otherwise.
From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2025
"It has quite a bit of sentimental value to me, so yes it is heart-wrenching," he said.
From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2025
His thin, reedy voice made his plea more heart-wrenching than if he’d howled it.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
