heartbroken

adjective

heart·​bro·​ken ˈhärt-ˌbrō-kən 

: overcome by sorrow

Synonyms

• bad
• blue
• brokenhearted
• cast down
• crestfallen
• dejected
• depressed
• despondent
• disconsolate
• doleful
• down
• down in the mouth
• downcast
• downhearted
• droopy
• forlorn
• gloomy
• glum
• hangdog
• heartsick
• heartsore
• heavyhearted
• inconsolable
• joyless
• low
• low-spirited
• melancholic
• melancholy
• miserable
• mournful
• sad
• saddened
• sorrowful
• sorry
• unhappy
• woebegone
• woeful
• wretched

Examples of heartbroken in a Sentence

not as heartbroken over missing out on the trip to New York as I thought she would be

was utterly heartbroken when his pet dog died

Recent Examples on the Web

Monét began her tweet with five heartbroken emojis. —Anna Chan, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024

Animal lovers have been left heartbroken by a dog who has already been adopted and returned to the shelter twice in her young life. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024

The film tells a simple story simply, focusing on the stirring desires of its characters — and their growing understanding that acting on those desires might leave them heartbroken. 3. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

His small act of kindness resonated deeply in a heartbroken community striving to rebuild and find its way forward. —Alaa Elassar, CNN, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above