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

• depressing
• dismal
• drear
• dreary
• heartrending
• melancholy
• mournful
• pathetic
• sad
• saddening
• sorry
• tearful
• teary

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

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, the Sister Wives star, 55, opens up about how her and Kody's son Garrison's heartbreaking death by suicide at age 25 in March has brought their family closer together. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2024

On the show, she is seen transporting and bottle-feeding infants, which is heartbreaking, knowing the intensity of the maternal bonds of primates. —Megan Ross, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2024

Ukraine has been on the backfoot for most of the past year, enduring relentless attacks, blackouts and heartbreaking losses. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 8 Sep. 2024

The collision of life and art is heartbreaking, and my heart is broken. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a