heartbreaking

[hahrt-brey-king]

adjective

1. causing intense anguish or sorrow.

Other Word Forms

• heartbreakingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of heartbreaking¹

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

Example Sentences

"The conversations we have with the families in the camps are heartbreaking," he says.

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“It’s just been so heartbreaking,” said Sun, who told me that despite the current state of the memorial, it’s been in far worse shape and has served as a homeless encampment.

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Hers was a puzzle that I had to put together, with each new piece of information being more heartbreaking than the last.

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Thus, the Lumleys had made the heartbreaking decision to hide Penelope in plain sight, as it were, at the Swanburne Academy.

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Director of advocacy and policy, Caroline Ansell, said: "If enacted, we believe they would have heartbreaking consequences for women and babies, including exposing more women to the dangers and harms of late-term abortions."

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Related Words

• affecting 
• agonizing 
• calamitous 
• dire 
• distressing www.thesaurus.com
• heart-wrenching 
• poignant 
• sad 
• touching 
• tragic 
• unfortunate