1
as in sad
causing unhappiness
a heartbreaking story of a family torn asunder by war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the heartbreaking state of Main Street now that most of the businesses have closed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pathetic
deserving of one's pity
a heartbreaking attempt to escape that ends in disaster
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heartbreaking
Powell Stephens, who drove by the crash on his way home to Medina from Buffalo, said the scene was heartbreaking.
—
Nic Anderson, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
In an even more heartbreaking moment for Gat, he gets drawn back into the house when nobody shows up shortly after midnight.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
Seeing the damage done by between 10 and 13 inches of rain in such a short time period has been heartbreaking.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The heartbreaking video shared by 21-year-old Tate (@hairbyelll_) is a poignant reminder of how life can change in a flash.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Nic Anderson, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
In an even more heartbreaking moment for Gat, he gets drawn back into the house when nobody shows up shortly after midnight.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
Seeing the damage done by between 10 and 13 inches of rain in such a short time period has been heartbreaking.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The heartbreaking video shared by 21-year-old Tate (@hairbyelll_) is a poignant reminder of how life can change in a flash.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartbreaking
Adjective
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How long is unknown, but with the season winding down and every game increasing in importance, any game off for Tucker is a sad statement on how far his stock has dropped in the last month.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Aug. 2025
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But the film’s precise, funny characters and vivid, sweltering look would have meant nothing without Lee’s wise and ultimately sad vision of multicultural America as a place where good intentions and casual mistrust are as commonplace as the local pizzeria.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And, of course, no amount of sporting success will ever make people forget the tragic events of 2005.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
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While there's plenty of tragic moments on Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the fourth episode of the Starz series is marked by a real-life loss.—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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What’s more pathetic than those who keep selling that myth?—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Aug. 2025
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Kamala has lied for years about their pathetic job growth, which has never been real.—
Meg Kinnard,
Fortune,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Gambling today, however, is a sad and depressing experience, nothing like my dad’s and my Atlantic City adventure.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Aug. 2025
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And yet, somehow, the most depressing show on TV—with the exception of any news broadcast, at least—is a reality soap about bougie couples in the suburbs of Los Angeles.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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On the Brink: The maddening precipice of greatness There is a special, unfortunate place in sports history for the teams and players that almost did it.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
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Unlike its cousin, the shaker glass, an unfortunate bar staple across the globe, a good pub glass usually holds 20 ounces of beer and has a flair in the upper body that allows aromas and flavors to blossom.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Fried wasn’t the only reason the Yankees lost on Sunday, as the Bombers’ bats were pitiful against Jason Alexander.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
10 Aug. 2025
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This negative sentiment was also felt on both sides of the Atlantic, given their pitiful plummet in popularity.—
Brie Stimson , Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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The White House disputes the prediction, arguing the Congressional Budget Office is a poor predictor of outcomes.—
Jessie Opoien,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Economists have also voiced concern that data is at risk of being politicized: the president fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics off the back of poor jobs results this month.—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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With exciting ex-Washington State QB Mateer and his former OC, Ben Arbuckle, last year’s miserable offense should be light-years better.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
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Add this to the many effects of miserable air quality caused by Canadian wildfires.—
Sophia Tiedge,
jsonline.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartbreaking. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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