heartbreak

noun

heart·​break ˈhärt-ˌbrāk 

: crushing grief, anguish, or distress

has had more than her share of heartbreak

Synonyms of heartbreak

• sorrow
• grief
• anguish

Examples of heartbreak in a Sentence

He recently suffered a string of romantic heartbreaks.

I understand the heartbreak you must feel over your grandmother's death.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Chiefs organization, at least until recently, hasn’t been a stranger to providing heartbreak. —Sam McDowell 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Dec. 2025

The Holiday Two women from opposite sides of the Atlantic—one from Los Angeles, the other from a quaint English village—swap homes for the holidays to escape heartbreak and gain a fresh perspective on life. —Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025

He is known for his deep, emotional voice and moving lyrics about love, heartbreak and everyday life. —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025

The slow-breaking kind of heartbreak that doesn’t announce itself, but changes everything. —Zelana Montminy, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heartbreak

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• forsake
• handshake
• headache

Kids Definition

heartbreak

noun

heart·​break -ˌbrāk 

: crushing grief, anguish, or distress

heartbreaking

-ˌbrā-kiŋ

adjective

heartbreakingly adverb

heartbroken

-ˌbrō-kən

adjective