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

Arvada West was a worthy competitor — good luck to any team facing Vais next season — but this was Regis’ time, this was Regis’ team to soothe past heartbreak. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2026

But portraying a character who carries so much heartbreak eight times a week can be emotionally taxing. —Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026

Now, Brunson is one of the biggest reasons the Knicks are four wins away from ending decades of heartbreak. —Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2026

Does the fact that Burden is still pretty wealthy really taint this tale of heartbreak? —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heartbreak

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

Kids Definition

heartbreak

noun

heart·​break -ˌbrāk 

: crushing grief, anguish, or distress

heartbreaking

-ˌbrā-kiŋ

adjective

heartbreakingly adverb

heartbroken

-ˌbrō-kən

adjective