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

To see violence at a place that brings so many people together is heartbreaking and unacceptable. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 27 July 2026

For Staten and Quinn, that timing proves especially heartbreaking. — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Like the cases of Jameson and Parker, many of these are avoidable tragedies that are heartbreaking for families and cost animals their lives. — Vanessa Shakib, Oc Register, 23 July 2026

The content creator and bestselling author, who is known for her popular Instagram account @SimonSits, came online on July 22 to share the heartbreaking news. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 22 July 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