Definition

Adjective: 1. Causing overwhelming sadness or emotional pain: Describes something that is so profoundly sad or tragic that it feels as if it could break one's heart. 2. Marked by or inducing intense sorrow or distress: Used to characterize events, situations, or expressions that evoke deep grief or anguish.

Usage and Examples

• Describing an event or situation:
  • The documentary about the war was absolutely heartbreaking.
  • It was a heartbreaking decision to close the family business.
• Describing a sight or sound:
  • The heartbreaking cries of the lost child echoed through the market.
  • She gave a heartbreaking sigh of disappointment.
• Describing a story or account:
  • He told the heartbreaking story of his journey as a refugee.

Advanced Usage and Nuance

• The word often implies a sense of tragedy that is deeply moving and evokes pity or sympathy in the observer. It is stronger than simply "sad."
• It can be used in a slightly hyperbolic way in informal contexts to describe something very disappointing, though it still retains its core sense of deep sadness.
  • It was heartbreaking to see our team lose in the final minute.

Variants and Related Words

• Heartbreak (noun): Overwhelming sorrow or grief; a cause of such sorrow.
  • The end of their friendship was a great heartbreak for her.
• Heartbroken (adjective): Suffering from overwhelming sorrow or grief.
  • She was heartbroken when her pet died.
• Heartrending (adjective): Very similar in meaning to "heartbreaking," causing great sadness or emotional pain. Often used interchangeably.
  • The film's final scene was heartrending.

Synonyms

• Devastating: Causing severe shock, distress, or grief.
• Tragic: Extremely sad, often involving death or suffering.
• Grievous: (Formal) Causing grief or sorrow, serious or severe.
• Poignant: Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; painfully affecting the feelings.

Antonyms

• Heartwarming: Causing feelings of happiness and pleasure.
• Joyful: Feeling or expressing great happiness.
• Uplifting: Making one feel cheerful or happy.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• To break someone's heart: To cause someone to feel extreme sadness or disappointment.
  • His betrayal broke her heart.
• A heartbreaking sight/sound: A commonly used phrase to emphasize the emotional impact of what is seen or heard.
  • The empty streets after the festival were a heartbreaking sight.

Adjective

1. causing or marked by grief or anguish
   • a grievous loss
   • a grievous cry
   • her sigh was heartbreaking
   • the heartrending words of Rabin's granddaughter