heartrending

adjective

heart·​rend·​ing ˈhärt-ˌren-diŋ 

: heartbreaking sense 1

a heartrending story

heartrendingly

ˈhärt-ˌren-diŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of heartrending

• sad
• depressing
• heartbreaking
• pathetic
• mournful
• tearful

Examples of heartrending in a Sentence

couldn't bear to see the heartrending photos of victims of the famine

a heartrending choice between saving his daughter or his son

Recent Examples on the Web

With deeply resonating performances from its leads, Hannah and Daniel, the film draws an audience into the psychological intensity of these characters in a heartrending and hopeful manner. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 May 2026

Every new detail of the case is more heartrending—and stomach-turning—than the last. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2026

Mitchell Arens’ cinematography simulates a fugue-like state that mirrors the vortex of grief that pervades through this heartrending film. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026

In the film’s most heartrending passage, when her odyssey has ended, this little girl, in a moment of quiet grace, sees just that. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1621, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heartrending

• amending
• appending
• ascending
• attending
• befriending
• commending
• contending
• defending
• depending
• descending
• distending
• expending

Kids Definition

heartrending

adjective

heart·​rend·​ing ˈhärt-ˌren-diŋ 

: causing heartbreak

a heartrending tragedy