1
as in sad
causing unhappiness
a heartbreaking story of a family torn asunder by war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the heartbreaking state of Main Street now that most of the businesses have closed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pathetic
deserving of one's pity
a heartbreaking attempt to escape that ends in disaster
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of heartbreaking
Powell Stephens, who drove by the crash on his way home to Medina from Buffalo, said the scene was heartbreaking.
—
Nic Anderson, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
In an even more heartbreaking moment for Gat, he gets drawn back into the house when nobody shows up shortly after midnight.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
Seeing the damage done by between 10 and 13 inches of rain in such a short time period has been heartbreaking.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The heartbreaking video shared by 21-year-old Tate (@hairbyelll_) is a poignant reminder of how life can change in a flash.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Nic Anderson, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
In an even more heartbreaking moment for Gat, he gets drawn back into the house when nobody shows up shortly after midnight.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
Seeing the damage done by between 10 and 13 inches of rain in such a short time period has been heartbreaking.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The heartbreaking video shared by 21-year-old Tate (@hairbyelll_) is a poignant reminder of how life can change in a flash.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartbreaking
Adjective
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The song’s a lonely and sad tale, with the narrator pondering his state in the back of the long, white Cadillac.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
-
The whole situation is sad for a number of reasons.—
Will McGough,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And, of course, no amount of sporting success will ever make people forget the tragic events of 2005.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
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While there's plenty of tragic moments on Outlander: Blood of My Blood, the fourth episode of the Starz series is marked by a real-life loss.—
Maureen Lee Lenker Published,
EW.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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How petty and pathetic and thin-skinned could this administration get?—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
22 Aug. 2025
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Two things were completely predictable after Donald Trump’s pathetic stunt, packing the streets of Washington, DC, with National Guard members and federal agents, allegedly to combat crime.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The bottom line is downright depressing: short of a direct U.S. military intervention that no serious analyst would contemplate, Trump’s toolkit to will a Ukraine peace deal into existence is bare.—
Daniel DePetris,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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Gambling today, however, is a sad and depressing experience, nothing like my dad’s and my Atlantic City adventure.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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On the Brink: The maddening precipice of greatness There is a special, unfortunate place in sports history for the teams and players that almost did it.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
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Unlike its cousin, the shaker glass, an unfortunate bar staple across the globe, a good pub glass usually holds 20 ounces of beer and has a flair in the upper body that allows aromas and flavors to blossom.—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Fried wasn’t the only reason the Yankees lost on Sunday, as the Bombers’ bats were pitiful against Jason Alexander.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
10 Aug. 2025
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This negative sentiment was also felt on both sides of the Atlantic, given their pitiful plummet in popularity.—
Brie Stimson , Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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The White House disputes the prediction, arguing the Congressional Budget Office is a poor predictor of outcomes.—
Jessie Opoien,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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While poor earnings could send tech stocks down momentarily, the S&P 500 has yielded returns in most years since its inception.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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With exciting ex-Washington State QB Mateer and his former OC, Ben Arbuckle, last year’s miserable offense should be light-years better.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
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Add this to the many effects of miserable air quality caused by Canadian wildfires.—
Sophia Tiedge,
jsonline.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartbreaking. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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