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

heartbreakingly

ˈhärt-ˌbrā-kiŋ-lē 

adverb

a heartbreakingly tragic movie

Synonyms

• depressing
• dismal
• drear
• dreary
• heartrending
• melancholy
• mournful
• pathetic
• sad
• saddening
• sorry
• tearful
• teary

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

Celebrity bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow are preparing to hatch triplets in their Southern California nest following last year's heartbreaking unsuccessful hatch. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025

The dog sitter shared a heartbreaking update on Prada. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025

Yet as the team is debriefing their patient’s heartbreaking death, they’re interrupted by a fight between two mothers in the waiting room. —Ashley Boucher, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025

This heartbreaking event, which unfolded in Advent Health Daytona Beach Hospital, has left an indelible mark on the memories of countless staff members, patients, and first responders. —Tony Ray, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for heartbreaking

• awaking
• backbreaking
• bookmaking
• breathtaking
• brickmaking
• caretaking
• dressmaking
• filmmaking
• forsaking
• glassmaking
• groundbreaking
• haymaking