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.
The frustration reached another level recently during a particularly heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Royals, when Guerrero’s career as the Blue Jays’ franchise slugger hit a new low in front of home fans. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 In an era of polarization and oversimplified historical narratives, American women need not nostalgia but a new fleet of American Girls who can tell difficult, dangerous, heartbreaking and tenacious stories of lives past. — Tara Strauch, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 The Ghostbusters actress posted a heartbreaking tribute to her longtime friend, who served as the best man at her 1990 wedding to James Hayman. — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Aug. 2026 Since the shooting, former teammates, coaches and others have been texting his father to share heartbreaking memories. — Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 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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heartbreaker
heartbreaking
heartbroken
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Cite this Entry

“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbreaking. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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