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

Chicago Bears fans are resilient even after a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Rams this past weekend, but that doesn't mean the fun has to be. —Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026

Despite Mattingly’s delight at reaching the Fall Classic with the Blue Jays, the coach did highlight that the final heartbreaking moment — when Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk came up short in the team’s last at bat in extra innings in Game 7 — still sticks with him. —Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026

The happy announcement came after Edwards previously shared her experience with a heartbreaking pregnancy loss following Axel’s birth in 2021. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2026

To do this, the program uses Sentinel satellites, which zip around Earth, capturing various breathtaking, and heartbreaking, views from low Earth orbit. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 15 Jan. 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