heartbreaking
adjective
heart·break·ing
ˈhärt-ˌbrā-kiŋ 
1
: causing intense sorrow or distress
heartbreaking news
a heartbreaking defeat
2
: producing an intense emotional reaction or response
heartbreaking beauty
Examples of heartbreaking in a Sentence
She wrote a heartbreaking story about the death of her grandfather.
It was heartbreaking to know that there was nothing I could do.
The team suffered another heartbreaking defeat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Getting heartbreaking news Kevin held on while ICE transferred Martinez-Carrada to a holding facility inside the federal building in downtown Baltimore.
—
Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?
—Andrea Bennett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Losing a child is always heartbreaking, but as a father who lost his daughter to leukemia, Crockett’s sorrow and grief were amplified immensely.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
During the play, Daisy ages more than 20 years as Rupp terrifically shows her heartbreaking move to dementia and frailty.
—Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
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Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?
—Andrea Bennett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Losing a child is always heartbreaking, but as a father who lost his daughter to leukemia, Crockett’s sorrow and grief were amplified immensely.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
During the play, Daisy ages more than 20 years as Rupp terrifically shows her heartbreaking move to dementia and frailty.
—Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbreaking. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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