heartache

noun

heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk How to pronounce heartache (audio)
: anguish of mind : sorrow

Examples of heartache in a Sentence

I've had more than my share of heartaches in my life. the heartache she felt when she saw the innocent victims of the war
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
All the grind, the heartache, everything just came out. Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025 Phillies President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski, has seen his share of joy and heartache regarding bullpen construction in his years of front office service with the Chicago White Sox, Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, and now, the Phillies. Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 That idea—of a grand continuum, in which the circumstances change but all of our big human feelings (heartache, joy, unease, panic, contentment) remain the same, across time and vast distances—felt germane to her new songs. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025 Since Lewis Jennings’ murder in 1986, his family has endured endless heartache. Timothy J. Cruz, Boston Herald, 2 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heartache

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartache was in 1578

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heartache.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartache. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

heartache

noun
heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk How to pronounce heartache (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on heartache

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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