heartbreaking
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of heartbreaking
First recorded in 1600–10; heartbreak + -ing 2
Explanation
Something that's deeply sad or distressing is heartbreaking, like the heartbreaking death of your beloved cat. Heartbreaking is the perfect word to describe a devastating feeling. When you lose someone you love, it feels like your heart is broken. Use this adjective for anything that causes you grief or sorrow, like the heartbreaking loss of an old tree in your yard or a glimpse of your crush holding hands with someone else. Other distressing events can feel heartbreaking too — even the loss of your favorite team in the playoffs: "What a heartbreaking defeat!"
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.
An absence of kindness at such a vulnerable time is heartbreaking.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
He also blessed us with one of the most heartbreaking lines of this decade: “What is grief if not love persevering?”
From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026
The author of the novel “Alias O. Henry” on stories of hard-fought victory and heartbreaking loss in baseball’s Fall Classic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
Bamford’s suffering is heartbreaking, her resilience is moving and her material about it all is a warped kind of genius.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026
Hearing his voice is thrilling and heartbreaking at the same time.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
