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

There was a serious and heartbreaking scene at Ford Field on Sunday when linebacker Jack Campbell was left motionless following a violent collision on a tackle, leading to him being removed on an immobilized cart. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Stewart’s heartbreaking death comes at a difficult time for Jackman. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 30 Oct. 2026

Watching Luther heal without closure in the case has been heartbreaking, Kristy Luther said. — Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026

Sarah Polley brought Miriam Toews’s heartbreaking novel to the big screen with great care and without compromising its complexity. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

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