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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heartbreaking
Mass Street exited with a heartbreaking 84-81 loss to Team Colorado.
—
Latif Love
july 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
The decision for the Williams family to sell the eponymous team, founded by Claire’s father, Frank Williams, in 1977, was a heartbreaking and difficult one.
—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
30 June 2026
After years spent documenting these events and trying to bring the story to light, Bolerjack is ready to share this shocking and deeply heartbreaking story with the world.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 June 2026
But the South African fans there were ready to get loud despite suffering a heartbreaking loss in the final minutes.
—
Fred Robledo,
Oc Register,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Latif Love
july 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2026
The decision for the Williams family to sell the eponymous team, founded by Claire’s father, Frank Williams, in 1977, was a heartbreaking and difficult one.
—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
30 June 2026
After years spent documenting these events and trying to bring the story to light, Bolerjack is ready to share this shocking and deeply heartbreaking story with the world.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 June 2026
But the South African fans there were ready to get loud despite suffering a heartbreaking loss in the final minutes.
—
Fred Robledo,
Oc Register,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartbreaking
Adjective
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Day broke, bathing everything in light, and so great was the vitality of the early-morning sun that even the unhappy city seemed to smile a wan, sad smile.
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But SpringHill really took off in 2020, two seasons into James’ Lakers term, when The SpringHill Company went public (and the Lakers won the sad COVID-bubble NBA Championship).
Adjective
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Anything tragic that happened to minorities was inevitable and necessary.
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Titled ‘Forever 20′, it has been placed on 97 Avenue, close to the stadium’s Main Stand, on the eve of the first anniversary of their tragic passing in a car crash in Spain last July.
Adjective
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Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
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After these first three majors — and after a pathetic showing this week at Shinnecock — there's no reason to bet against it.
Adjective
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What a depressing, disturbing waste, no matter the final verdict.
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After watching and enjoying the film, a somewhat depressing thought leaped into my mind.
Adjective
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As attendees were escorted out of the Great American State Fair on Sunday because of inclement weather, guests noticed an unfortunate typo displayed on a digital billboard at the National Mall.
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They should be trained not to ask a bunch of questions about the medical condition, express doubt, comment that the timing is unfortunate or share private information with co-workers.
Adjective
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Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.
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Given the national team’s pitiful demise at the Oval, with New Zealand completing victory on the fifth morning, Ben Stokes’ revival in absentia feels like the only consolation from a miserable week.
Adjective
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Because of that, these hands suffer from high production costs, poor durability against impacts, short operational lifespans, and there are no existing solutions that engineers can readily draw upon, Wang added.
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The extreme heat can also affect people who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
Adjective
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Remarkably, La Roja have failed to win a knockout round match in their last three World Cups, but expect Lamine Yamal and company to end that miserable run today.
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But the American job market has chugged along, continuing to rebound from a miserable 2025.
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartbreaking. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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