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Synonyms

heartbreaking

American  
[hahrt-brey-king] / ˈhɑrtˌbreɪ kɪŋ /

adjective

  1. causing intense anguish or sorrow.

heartbreaking British  
/ ˈhɑːtˌbreɪkɪŋ /

adjective

  1. extremely sad, disappointing, or pitiful

"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

Other Word Forms

  • heartbreakingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of heartbreaking

First recorded in 1600–10; heartbreak + -ing 2

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’s heartbreaking because it’s a road sign that we are going backwards.”

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

"After all my investment and hard work, it is heartbreaking."

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Yet the performance is mostly one of heartbreaking reserve; her occasional voiceover comes in short, spare declarations from Carol’s diary on the latest dreadfulness to afflict the town.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

“It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away,” Souther announced on social media.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

The officers were pursuing a Decker who was signing up for Bangers, the challenge for online feeds that has had a heartbreaking amount of daily hits and downloads the past four months.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera

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.