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.
Haley Mlotek’s new book provides neither catharsis nor remedies for heartache, but rather a tender exploration of human intimacy. Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2025 Residents, friends and classmates attended the vigil, expressing their disbelief and heartache over London’s death. Keith Daniels, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2025 Warm and empathic, Reber often ends up listening to her visitors’ stories of trauma and heartache and comforting them with a combination of wisdom from her own life and thoughtful analyses of Lynch’s work. Rachel Handler, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025 The book aims to help families navigate the heartache of losing a furry companion. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 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 Entries

Cite this Entry

“Heartache.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartache. Accessed 3 Mar. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!