heartbreaking

adjective

heart·​break·​ing ˈhärt-ˌbrā-kiŋ How to pronounce heartbreaking (audio)
Synonyms of heartbreakingnext
1
: causing intense sorrow or distress
heartbreaking news
a heartbreaking defeat
2
: producing an intense emotional reaction or response
heartbreaking beauty
heartbreakingly
ˈhärt-ˌbrā-kiŋ-lē How to pronounce heartbreaking (audio)
adverb
a heartbreakingly tragic movie

Synonyms of heartbreaking

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their letters come to a heartbreaking climax when Parker writes about having breast cancer, from which Lorde also suffered. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 Pawan Deep Kaur described the film as a heartbreaking portrayal of the suffering endured by the older generation. — ABC News, 10 July 2026 That objective vehicle data dismantled the suspect’s alibi, advanced the investigation, and played a pivotal role in securing a conviction in one of Central Florida’s most heartbreaking cases. — Charles "chuck" Broadway, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026 Her parents, Mariano and Beatriz, confirmed the heartbreaking news to TMZ and shared a poignant tribute on Instagram, describing her death as a total shock and unexpected. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartbreaking was in 1591

Rhymes for heartbreaking

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Browse Nearby Words

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heartbroken
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Cite this Entry

“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbreaking. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of heartbreaking for Spanish Speakers

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