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

As Israeli strikes continue in Lebanon, humanitarian workers are reporting grim and heartbreaking details about the toll on the civilian population. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026

In a heartbreaking Instagram video posted last month, Savannah Guthrie thanked millions of supporters for their prayers and acknowledged that her mother may no longer be alive. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026

And Barbra Streisand knows exactly how to deliver a heartbreaking moment. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026

Worst of all, the program would eventually sustain two heartbreaking tragedies. —Michael Carrafiello, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 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