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

Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern described the figures as "heartbreaking" and said the government was "accelerating efforts to tackle the root causes of homelessness".

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If people have connected with “Task,” Pelphrey’s tender, heartbreaking performance is a major reason for that.

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"They are two brilliant boys and that was pretty heartbreaking," Moody said.

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Price, who also represented Boss, said his death “weighed heavily on Allen” and that “it’s heartbreaking to now be grieving Joshua as well.”

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Sarah Hunter was part of the winning team in 2014, captained England in the heartbreaking 2022 final defeat and is now their defence coach.

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Related Words

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