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
But this one comes at a particularly heartbreaking time.
—
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The heartbreaking murders at San Diego’s Islamic Center — followed by the teenage gunmen taking their own lives — have shaken our community to its core.
—Michael Brunker, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
In a particularly heartbreaking moment, TL falls into a swimming pool and is unable to get himself out, stuck in the water for hours until his son helps him.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 26 May 2026
As Scott so brilliantly plays him, this is a man suffering in silence, caught up in heartbreaking circumstances, but also has a job to do and knows the consequences of failing.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
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Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The heartbreaking murders at San Diego’s Islamic Center — followed by the teenage gunmen taking their own lives — have shaken our community to its core.
—Michael Brunker, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026
In a particularly heartbreaking moment, TL falls into a swimming pool and is unable to get himself out, stuck in the water for hours until his son helps him.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 26 May 2026
As Scott so brilliantly plays him, this is a man suffering in silence, caught up in heartbreaking circumstances, but also has a job to do and knows the consequences of failing.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 26 May 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 31 May. 2026.
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