heartache

noun

heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk How to pronounce heartache (audio)
: anguish of mind : sorrow

Examples of heartache in a Sentence

I've had more than my share of heartaches in my life. the heartache she felt when she saw the innocent victims of the war
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.
Running underneath all of our efforts was heartache, sorrow, and anxiety over her loss. Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025 To offer condolences for the heartache of a last-second loss. Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025 Two games into the 2025-26 season, the heartache that the Sharks have felt in that area has only gotten worse. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 12 Oct. 2025 Judah The movie version of Laura is very much single, still nursing the heartache of her break-up with fellow journalist Ben (David Ajala), who is also on the cruise. Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heartache

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartache was in 1578

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heartache.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartache. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

heartache

noun
heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk How to pronounce heartache (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on heartache

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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