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 improvisation of last-minute hope was truly heartbreaking. — Kurt Loder, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Some decisions, like the choice to excise the story of the Hamiltons, were heartbreaking — Tom Hamilton is her favorite character. — Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

No film could be more heartbreaking, yet there are touches of humor throughout. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

Rhodes put out a heartbreaking post on social media, featuring photos of him, his wife Brandi and their children with their dog through the years. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 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