1
as in sad
causing unhappiness
a heartbreaking story of a family torn asunder by war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of heartbreaking
This is the most heartbreaking part, like, what do these boys do now?
—
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 22 May 2025
One of these was the scientist in Jakarta, but by far the biggest and most profoundly affecting change from the first game was the third episode, which gave Frank and Bill a beautiful, heartbreaking episode all to themselves.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
In one heartbreaking scene, after seven months sober, Mike takes some ketamine with his girlfriend and her parents and is dancing and having a joyous time.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
Her heartbreaking clip has captured the hearts of over 1.2 million TikTok viewers, with thousands of viewers sharing their sorrow for the little boy.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 22 May 2025
One of these was the scientist in Jakarta, but by far the biggest and most profoundly affecting change from the first game was the third episode, which gave Frank and Bill a beautiful, heartbreaking episode all to themselves.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
In one heartbreaking scene, after seven months sober, Mike takes some ketamine with his girlfriend and her parents and is dancing and having a joyous time.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
Her heartbreaking clip has captured the hearts of over 1.2 million TikTok viewers, with thousands of viewers sharing their sorrow for the little boy.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartbreaking
Adjective
-
After the show, there's booze, girls, and hotel suites, but Abel's locked in the bathroom, being sad.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
15 May 2025
-
For someone who prizes roadside Americana, this is the visual version of the sad trombone sound.—
Christopher Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
Mexicans mourned the deaths of two sailors while authorities in Mexico and New York worked to unravel the mystery of the tragic crash of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship into the Brooklyn Bridge.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
21 May 2025
-
Listen to this article 3 min Sarah Silverman revealed a shocking family secret that her late father, Donald Silverman, once shared with her about her baby brother Jeffrey's tragic death.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
No other governor, remember, has tried to pull off this pathetic budget stunt.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2025
-
In his last, most pathetic years, Mark Twain threw himself behind the crackpot theory that the true author of Shakespeare’s plays may have been Francis Bacon.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, Chernow devotes a hefty portion of his 1,039 pages (excluding notes) to Twain’s personal tribulations, a depressing series of bungles and calamities starting in the author’s middle age.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
-
Based on the memoir of a real doctor, the stories and tribulations feel achingly real, and Whishaw's sly smile and tongue-in-cheek delivery keeps the depressing stories from becoming too morose.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
None of his previous work has been released in the U.S., which is unfortunate because Demoustier (brother of the talented actress Anaïs) is one of those rare French filmmakers who can blend suspense with perceptive writing and characterization, resulting in artsy thrillers that dig deep.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
-
The decision was so unfortunate that the NAIA felt compelled to issue an apology.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
But the rates were pitiful: $9.87 for a 13-mile trip, $19.97 for a 25-mile trip and so on.—
Eli Tan,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
-
Israel’s performance in climate mitigation, moving to renewable energies, is pitiful — just 12% when some countries are 70%.—
JTA Staff Report,
Sun Sentinel,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
This tactic is sometimes used to justify letting an employee go under the guise of poor performance.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
-
The original doesn’t go that deeply into it, but this poor girl was essentially forced to be a teen mom at this time in her life when all of her friends would be graduating high school and dating and thinking about their futures.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Allergies can make anyone miserable, especially when traveling.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
-
Nothing’s more miserable than foot pain before the dancing’s even begun.—
Camille Freestone,
Glamour,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartbreaking. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share