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

Thanks in large part to a heartbreaking loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 Rose Bowl. —Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

But the Hornets came up just short in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Bearcats on Tuesday at Aledo High School. —Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026

Behind these heartbreaking details is trauma that is difficult to comprehend. —Kathryn Spearman, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026

Watching Laurie in that scene was so heartbreaking, looking at her daughter and putting on a smile, trying to not seem completely shaken by it. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 16 Apr. 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