heartache

noun

heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk How to pronounce heartache (audio)
Synonyms of heartachenext
: 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.
The journey involves heartache and self-doubt. Steve Buckley, New York Times, 23 June 2026 Ending the show with one final jump affirms that there’s no future in which the Landry family is done with time traveling, despite the trauma and heartache the pond has delivered with its gift. Megan Vick, Variety, 22 June 2026 Since then, it's been decades of heartache offset by pockets of championship glory, with some of the most pivotal figures in American sports history. Ryan Baker, CBS News, 22 June 2026 Leonhard-Hooper’s script is ovaries-to-the-wall zany, but there’s disturbance and heartache in it, too. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 June 2026 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 28 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

heartache

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

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