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

heartbreakingly

ˈhärt-ˌbrā-kiŋ-lē 

adverb

a heartbreakingly tragic movie

Synonyms of heartbreaking

• sad
• depressing
• pathetic

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

This ability to oscillate between the comedic and heartbreaking has earned O’Connor a comparison to a certain Hollywood legend from another Hollywood legend. —Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

In the heartbreaking clip, the canine circles the car and jumps up at the vehicle's closed doors before the car departs, leaving the dog alone. —Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

Five months after the deadly Texas Hill Country flood, newly released 911 calls reveal panic, desperation and heartbreaking pleas. —Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025

The Ravens will hope this year’s semifinal experience goes better than last year’s, a heartbreaking 38-35 loss to Keiser. —Kc Star, Kansas City Star, 6 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for heartbreaking

• awaking
• backbreaking
• bookmaking
• breathtaking
• brickmaking
• caretaking
• dressmaking
• filmmaking
• forsaking
• glassmaking
• groundbreaking
• haymaking