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Synonyms

heartbreaker

American  
[hahrt-brey-ker] / ˈhɑrtˌbreɪ kər /

noun

  1. a person, event, or thing causing heartbreak.

heartbreaker British  
/ ˈhɑːtˌbreɪkə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that causes intense sadness or disappointment

"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 heartbreaker

1655–65; heartbreak + -er 1

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 Cleveland Cavaliers, who fell 140-138 to Miami in an overtime heartbreaker on Monday, rallied to turn the tables with a 130-116 triumph over the Heat.

From Barron's • Nov. 13, 2025

Cinema has warned us about variations of this breed of harmless-looking heartbreaker for generations — it was Woody Allen’s entire persona.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2025

The audience isn't sure if he's about to be a typical suave heartbreaker.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2024

Warning to anyone who was left cold by the final monologue last time around: It is now a heartbreaker, just as it’s meant to be.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2024

They ignored me and belted out the heartbreaker part where the mother must leave her baby.

From "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia

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.