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Synonyms

heartbreak

American  
[hahrt-breyk] / ˈhɑrtˌbreɪk /

noun

  1. great sorrow, grief, or anguish.

heartbreak British  
/ ˈhɑːtˌbreɪk /

noun

  1. intense and overwhelming grief, esp through disappointment in love

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of heartbreak

First recorded in 1575–85; heart + break

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.

At least not without a modicum of heartbreak.

From The Wall Street Journal

What he really meant was what we saw from Mr. Rivers: heartbreak with a smile that never quite disappears.

From The Wall Street Journal

Introduced by nostalgic strings, Folded became Kehlani's first Top 10 hit in her native US, blending classic R&B themes of heartbreak and longing with modern production.

From BBC

With the agony of past heartbreak flooding back, McIlroy held his nerve to birdie the first play-off hole and win his first Masters.

From BBC

Since announcing the demise of the location, people from all states and even other countries have been broadcasting their heartbreak online on forums like Reddit.

From Los Angeles Times

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.