heartbreaking

adjective

heart·​break·​ing ˈhärt-ˌbrā-kiŋ How to pronounce heartbreaking (audio)
1
: causing intense sorrow or distress
heartbreaking news
a heartbreaking defeat
2
: producing an intense emotional reaction or response
heartbreaking beauty
heartbreakingly adverb
a heartbreakingly tragic movie

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
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.
Hakeem Adeniji, an offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns, shared the heartbreaking loss of his child a week before the boy's due date. Antonio Planas, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024 But with three heartbreaking murders under his belt, the city under his thumb, and The Batman: Part II looming, Oz Cobb is standing tall at the end of The Penguin, redefining the character and readying him for a return to whatever future version of Gotham beckons him back home. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024 The news of Beau’s death, along with, now, the heartbreaking news of Jackie’s arrest in connection with his death has overwhelmed us with grief and speculation and confusion. Vicki Gerdes / Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 4 Nov. 2024 So far, Season 3 has been amazing and heartbreaking and hilarious. Erik Kain, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for heartbreaking 

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartbreaking was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near heartbreaking

Cite this Entry

“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbreaking. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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