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

Nowlan is absolutely correct about the suffering and heartache caused by gambling disorders, which lead directly to bankruptcy, divorce, foreclosure and suicide. —Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026

This is a woman who has lived through heartache, struggled with anxiety, loved and lost, and endured the raw grind of intense therapy to land at her current state of self-acceptance. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026

After dropping an overtime heartache to rival Oklahoma in Saturday’s regular-season finale, Texas basketball will have to traverse the SEC Tournament without a first-round bye. —Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 8 Mar. 2026

Since then, it's been decades of heartache offset by pockets of championship glory, and some of the most pivotal figures in American sports history. —Ryan Baker, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heartache

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

Kids Definition

heartache

noun

heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk 

: sorrow entry 1 sense 1a, anguish