heartbreaking

adjective

ˈhärt-ˌbrā-kiŋ How to pronounce heartbreaking (audio)
Definition of heartbreakingnext
1
as in sad
causing unhappiness a heartbreaking story of a family torn asunder by war

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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

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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

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 Last year, research from a watchdog group found that ChatGPT would tell 13-year-olds how to get drunk and high, instruct them on how to conceal eating disorders and even compose a heartbreaking suicide letter to their parents if asked. — Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026 His older sister stayed mum about his death for many months after, eventually sharing heartbreaking comments about his loss in September 2024. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Aug. 2026 Back in 2022, the news of his son Anthony's stage-four cancer diagnosis was even more heartbreaking. — Christine Sloan, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 Hayden Panettiere’s final Instagram post before her death is, in hindsight, a heartbreaking celebration of joy. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartbreaking
  1. sad
  2. tragic
  3. pathetic
  4. depressing
  5. unfortunate
  6. pitiful
  7. poor
  8. miserable
Adjective
  • That might also explain the movie’s attempts to supercharge its few action sequences, as if the filmmakers realized belatedly that a sad book without much incident wasn’t exactly prime summer studio release fodder.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Obviously, a really sad story and hard to listen to at times.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • The lake has also been the site of several tragic drownings in which victims’ remains were never recovered – and may now be coming nearer to the surface.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The trailer has shots of medical staff treating screaming and severely injured patients, performing chest compressions and Robby consoling a grieving family member who received some tragic news.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tragic
Adjective
  • The outfield production continues to be a concern, and the overall offensive production is pathetic.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Barkley got a pathetic 34% of team rushing attempts inside the 5-yard line (37th among RBs).
    — Michael Salfino, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of pathetic
Adjective
  • Climate change, depressing and overwhelming, falls into that category.
    — Peter Prengaman, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Keegan’s first decision at Newcastle as manager in 1992 was to fumigate the depressing training ground.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • Hall was excellent for Newcastle against Liverpool in the clubs’ season opener on Sunday, and unfortunate to concede a stoppage-time penalty for the equaliser.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • People have an unfortunate tendency to make this song sound dour, but Garcia fills it with energy.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • 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.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Hector Vickers, New York Times, 21 June 2026
Definition of pitiful
Adjective
  • The petition argues Mays’ language during the trial revealed something deeper than a poor defense strategy — a worldview that dehumanized the man he was supposed to defend.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • There remains work to be done, as evidenced by their poor showing in last Thursday’s 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
    — Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • That two-run swing merely offset the shortstop’s second consecutive game with an error, however, in what’s been a miserable defensive season.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • These findings align with consumer confidence data from the Conference Board, which found earlier this month that baby boomers and Gen Xers are far more miserable about the economy than younger generations.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of miserable

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Cite this Entry

“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartbreaking. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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