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
Full of warmth, tenderness, and poetic brilliance, this 2025 Sundance Festival Favorite Award winner is a heartbreaking yet life-affirming celebration of creativity, partnership, and the enduring power of words to light the darkest times.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
Heritage was seeking to bounce back from a heartbreaking 43-42 loss to Mansfield Timberview a week ago, a game in which Weaver accounted for all six Heritage touchdowns -- three passing and three rushing.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
In an exclusive clip shared with PEOPLE ahead of the theatrical release of Goldsberry's documentary Satisfied, the mom of two, 54, candidly shares a heartbreaking moment between her and her son Benjamin, now 16.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
After jumping between two worlds in the first half of the season, John Cena’s Chris Smith finally moves to the parallel universe to be a better man, a decision partly prompted by a heartbreaking betrayal.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
Heritage was seeking to bounce back from a heartbreaking 43-42 loss to Mansfield Timberview a week ago, a game in which Weaver accounted for all six Heritage touchdowns -- three passing and three rushing.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
In an exclusive clip shared with PEOPLE ahead of the theatrical release of Goldsberry's documentary Satisfied, the mom of two, 54, candidly shares a heartbreaking moment between her and her son Benjamin, now 16.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
After jumping between two worlds in the first half of the season, John Cena’s Chris Smith finally moves to the parallel universe to be a better man, a decision partly prompted by a heartbreaking betrayal.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartbreaking
Adjective
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One purveyor of fairy tales that wasn’t afraid of a sad ending?—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Sade Bess, a Combs fan from Brooklyn, left the court’s overflow observation room looking both sad and relieved.—
Jennifer Peltz,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This film largely focuses on Desai’s story – including a tragic twist at the end of his life.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
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She's also found ways for students to help in tragic circumstances before.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Characters can be pathetic, and frank about their Toledo Truth Teller’s bleak prospects.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
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Jimmy Kimmel is a pathetic hate monger.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Coordinating your exhales with the pressing, depressing, pulling and lifting phases of these exercises enhances activation of the scapular stabilizing muscles and reinforces proper rib cage alignment.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
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Closing The Gap The racial wealth gap in America remains depressing, and homeownership is one of the clearest indicators of it.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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All the rest are likely to shine in movies by good directors, and most actors whose reputations aren’t illustriously artistic have mainly been unfortunate in their collaborations.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
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Irish butter may now an internationally marketable commodity, but in Swift’s day, the Irish peasantry fought back against their replacement by cattle by maiming and driving the unfortunate cattle off cliffs.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Browns have scored the second-fewest points in the NFL, ahead of only the pitiful Tennessee Titans.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
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On the side of the highway, Wilson cuts a pitiful, solitary figure.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Similar protests occurred in Brazil over steep living costs and poor healthcare and education ahead of the country hosting the 2014 World Cup tournament.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Over time, dysfunctional breathing reinforces poor posture and scapular instability.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The same goes for Treinen, who endured a miserable September, allowing 12 runs (10 earned) in 9 1/3 innings.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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And so, a miserable team performance was cemented into a 26-21 loss, the team’s first of the year.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartbreaking. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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