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 of heartbreaking

• sad
• depressing
• pathetic

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

The Baltimore Ravens missed the playoffs last season with an 8-9 record, ending the regular season with a heartbreaking loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. —Adam Thompson, CBS News, 18 June 2026

All the stories were so heartbreaking. —Lina Lecaro, SPIN, 17 June 2026

Among the tangle of wins, draws and heartbreaking losses, teams with either of the latter results are looking for salvation. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 17 June 2026

But then Henri Camara with those two incredible goals against Sweden in the round of 16, and that quarter-final against Turkey, the heartbreaking extra-time goal. —Adam Crafton, New York Times, 16 June 2026

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