heartbreaking
adjective
heart·break·ing
ˈhärt-ˌbrā-kiŋ 
1
: causing intense sorrow or distress
heartbreaking news
a heartbreaking defeat
2
: producing an intense emotional reaction or response
heartbreaking beauty
Synonyms
Examples of heartbreaking in a Sentence
She wrote a heartbreaking story about the death of her grandfather.
It was heartbreaking to know that there was nothing I could do.
The team suffered another heartbreaking defeat.
Recent Examples on the Web
In the span of just a few minutes, the scene is heartbreaking, horrifying, hilarious, surprising, and gross.
—
EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The shootings happen so frequently that the only way to distinguish one from the other is with a heartbreaking shorthand that’s both callous and intimate.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
That was all sorts of heartbreaking and infuriating.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2024
Each and every tragedy is heartbreaking, says McCoy.
—Pamela Appea, Parents, 7 Apr. 2024
Columbus Circle Location: Broadway, Central Park West, 8th Avenue, and 59th Street
One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the entire series takes place in front of the fountains at Columbus Circle.
—Kayla Keegan, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Bijoux recently issued a heartbreaking plea for help.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
Cougars star Jamal Shead went down late in the first half with a heartbreaking ankle injury and remained on the bench in the second half.
—Kathryn Sheldon, Sacramento Bee, 31 Mar. 2024
To make matters even more heartbreaking, the producer and TV personality admits that her mother had notified her the night before to call her dad and speak with him one last time amid his illness.
—Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
EW.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The shootings happen so frequently that the only way to distinguish one from the other is with a heartbreaking shorthand that’s both callous and intimate.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
That was all sorts of heartbreaking and infuriating.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2024
Each and every tragedy is heartbreaking, says McCoy.
—Pamela Appea, Parents, 7 Apr. 2024
Columbus Circle Location: Broadway, Central Park West, 8th Avenue, and 59th Street
One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the entire series takes place in front of the fountains at Columbus Circle.
—Kayla Keegan, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Bijoux recently issued a heartbreaking plea for help.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2024
Cougars star Jamal Shead went down late in the first half with a heartbreaking ankle injury and remained on the bench in the second half.
—Kathryn Sheldon, Sacramento Bee, 31 Mar. 2024
To make matters even more heartbreaking, the producer and TV personality admits that her mother had notified her the night before to call her dad and speak with him one last time amid his illness.
—Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heartbreaking.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near heartbreaking
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbreaking. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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