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
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
Details of their past life emerge in fragments, with flashbacks to a life destroyed by armed conflict, and a sudden, heartbreaking unveiling of their true predicament in the final minutes of the film.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
The love affair between Clark and Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) is both swoon-worthy and heartbreaking (although the less said about that amnesia kiss, the better).
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Mickey’s loss can resonate in your own memories, but there’s a temptation to look for the film’s technical flaws as a means of escaping its stark and heartbreaking spirit.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2025
The testimony from victims about the failure of a fragmented court system to provide adequate services and protect the women and children seeking their support was heartbreaking.
—Donna Miller, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
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Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
The love affair between Clark and Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) is both swoon-worthy and heartbreaking (although the less said about that amnesia kiss, the better).
—Devan Coggan, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Mickey’s loss can resonate in your own memories, but there’s a temptation to look for the film’s technical flaws as a means of escaping its stark and heartbreaking spirit.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2025
The testimony from victims about the failure of a fragmented court system to provide adequate services and protect the women and children seeking their support was heartbreaking.
—Donna Miller, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbreaking. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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