heartache

noun

heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk 

: anguish of mind : sorrow

Synonyms of heartache

• sorrow
• grief
• anguish
• heartbreak

Examples of heartache in a Sentence

I've had more than my share of heartaches in my life.

the heartache she felt when she saw the innocent victims of the war

Recent Examples on the Web

Success for the puppies and for the organization and for the people in need who ultimately get the dogs, means some heartache for them. — Patricia Babcock McGraw Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026

The music of the 1990s was a golden age of raucous, irreverent sound, and it was filled with heartache and tragedy. — Gene Park, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2026

The case was unsolved for decades Blandford and Bennett recount the heartache their family went through after their sister’s death. — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

He's considered one of the most influential rappers of all time with songs that speak to the human experience of love, heartache and familial relationships. — CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heartache

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

Kids Definition

heartache

noun

heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk 

: sorrow entry 1 sense 1a, anguish