informal : achingly sad : achy
In one video, he turned himself into an ad-campaign cowboy singing achy-breaky songs, satirizing Nashville while also twanging his heart out.Blake Gopnik, Washington Post, 19 May 2008

Word History

Etymology

achy + (heart)break(ing) + -y entry 1

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of achy-breaky was in 1991

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near achy-breaky

Cite this Entry

“Achy-breaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/achy-breaky. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!