heartthrob

noun

heart·​throb ˈhärt-ˌthräb How to pronounce heartthrob (audio)
1
: the throb of a heart
2
a
: sentimental emotion : passion
b
: sweetheart
also : a usually renowned man (such as an entertainer) noted for his sex appeal
teen heartthrobs

Examples of heartthrob in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This week, aging movie heartthrobs Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp showed their differing approaches to trying to get the public to still like them after being embroiled in high-profile personal scandals related to their respective problems with alcohol abuse. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 June 2025 The 34-year-old, launched to fame across the Chinese-speaking world a decade ago as a boyish heartthrob in teen romcom Our Times, was accused of paying 3.6 million Taiwanese dollars ($120,000) for a fake hypertension diagnosis. Will Ripley, CNN Money, 21 June 2025 The two both appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, an early '80s hit featuring an avalanche of heartthrob hunks. Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 June 2025 Although many fans will always love him as Nate Archibald, Chace Crawford has come a long way to shed his teen heartthrob image. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for heartthrob

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartthrob was in 1796

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Cite this Entry

“Heartthrob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartthrob. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

heartthrob

noun
heart·​throb -ˌthräb How to pronounce heartthrob (audio)
1
: the throb of a heart
2
: a sentimental emotion : passion
b
: sweetheart
also : an attractive and usually famous man

More from Merriam-Webster on heartthrob

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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