1
as in sad
causing unhappiness
couldn't bear to see the heartrending photos of victims of the famine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
a heartrending choice between saving his daughter or his son
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
heartrending memories of all the terrible crimes he'd committed and was sorry for now
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in pathetic
deserving of one's pity
the heartrending sight of a starving child holding out his hands for food
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heartrending
With deeply resonating performances from its leads, Hannah and Daniel, the film draws an audience into the psychological intensity of these characters in a heartrending and hopeful manner.
—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Every new detail of the case is more heartrending—and stomach-turning—than the last.
—
Joy Press,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Mitchell Arens’ cinematography simulates a fugue-like state that mirrors the vortex of grief that pervades through this heartrending film.
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
For Emma, the heartrending decision became clear came the night the police descended on her North Miami neighborhood.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
His appearance, stopping them in their tracks, is one of the most heartrending moments of any movie.
—
John Penner,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
The air was cooler up here, the signage sparing, the views of granite domes and uninterrupted forest vast and heartrending.
—
Gloria Liu,
Outside Online,
22 Oct. 2025
After the latest heartrending horse carriage incident, activists and some Big Apple officials renewed their calls to outlaw the industry.
—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
10 Aug. 2025
In writing this book, Guralnick earned the trust of Parker’s second wife and widow, Loanne, who fills in some heartrending details.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Every new detail of the case is more heartrending—and stomach-turning—than the last.
—
Joy Press,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Mitchell Arens’ cinematography simulates a fugue-like state that mirrors the vortex of grief that pervades through this heartrending film.
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
For Emma, the heartrending decision became clear came the night the police descended on her North Miami neighborhood.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
His appearance, stopping them in their tracks, is one of the most heartrending moments of any movie.
—
John Penner,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
The air was cooler up here, the signage sparing, the views of granite domes and uninterrupted forest vast and heartrending.
—
Gloria Liu,
Outside Online,
22 Oct. 2025
After the latest heartrending horse carriage incident, activists and some Big Apple officials renewed their calls to outlaw the industry.
—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
10 Aug. 2025
In writing this book, Guralnick earned the trust of Parker’s second wife and widow, Loanne, who fills in some heartrending details.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartrending
Adjective
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Then Greene takes a long, sad subway ride home, and America learns that one of their favorite TV doctors isn't flawless.
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Local foodies were sad to hear owner Sylvia Chung (Momma Chung) retired and closed the south Fort Worth restaurant in October of last year.
Adjective
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However, Ukraine’s successes have highlighted its ability to inflict painful damage on Russia and change the course of the conflict while Moscow’s advances recently have ground to a near halt.
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California’s already-high electricity rates have increased far faster than inflation, threaten progress on climate change and pose painful affordability burdens on residents and businesses, the Berkeley report said.
Adjective
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Kara isn’t the only superhero with a tragic origin story – but unlike, say, that guy who dresses up as a bat and fights crime after the deaths of his mom and dad, Kara hits up a dive bar and plays with her dog to cope.
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Following the tragic incident, Aiden has been remembered for his kindness and intense drive.
Adjective
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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.
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The Right Now’s Diana Levy — the executive producer of the stunt — asked reporters to spread out in a way that would make the turnout appear as sparse (and therefore pathetic) as possible.
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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Plant magnolias somewhere they will be protected from harsh winds, especially when buds or flowers are developing.
-
Most clarifying shampoos tend to be a little harsh and drying, but this one is gentle and nourishing.
Adjective
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The injury was an unfortunate occurrence in his World Cup debut and could affect Sweden’s chances going forward.
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The mini-slump in Eugene coincides with the aforementioned downturn in Spokane to create an unfortunate stretch for college basketball in the Pacific Northwest.
Adjective
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Rebecca Lowe joins Dan Patrick to discuss some of the top storylines around the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo's poor play to start, the United States' potential and more.
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Will the gap between rural and urban America – and the gap between rich and poor America – decline or grow?
Cite this Entry
“Heartrending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartrending. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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