heartbreaking
Americanadjective
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.
Scotland battled back to inflict a heartbreaking Six Nations defeat on Wales in a thrilling game in Cardiff.
From BBC
But the joy that little monkey feels for his orangutan, which he uses as shield, surrogate and playmate, is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.
From Los Angeles Times
"It was heartbreaking and very scary because you realise fairly quickly that it's terminal and the prognosis is suspect," he said.
From BBC
“Lawyers get to move on to another case, but for families, this is all there is so it’s just doubly heartbreaking to them.”
From Los Angeles Times
It was so tragic and heartbreaking because she is not computing anything.
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.
