Definition

Noun: * Your deepest feelings of love, compassion, or pity: The term "heartstrings" refers to one's most profound emotional sensitivities, especially those connected to love, affection, and sympathy. It is almost always used in contexts meant to evoke a strong emotional response.

Usage

The word "heartstrings" is used to describe the source of deep emotional feelings. It is most commonly found in the idiom "tug/pull at the heartstrings," meaning to evoke strong feelings of tenderness, sadness, or compassion. * The documentary about the rescued animals really tugged at my heartstrings. * The singer's poignant performance pulled at the heartstrings of the entire audience.

Advanced Usage

• To play on someone's heartstrings: To deliberately try to evoke a strong emotional reaction, often for sympathy or persuasion.
  • The charity advertisement was designed to play on the public's heartstrings and encourage donations.

Variants and Related Words

• Heartstring (singular, rare): Occasionally used in poetic or literary contexts, but the plural form "heartstrings" is standard in modern English.
• Heartfelt (adj.): Sincere and deeply felt.
  • She expressed her heartfelt gratitude.

Synonyms

• Emotions
• Feelings
• Sensibilities
• Affections

Idioms

• Tug / pull at the heartstrings: To strongly affect someone emotionally; to evoke deep feelings of pity, tenderness, or nostalgia.
  • The old love letters found in the attic tugged at her heartstrings.

Noun

1. your deepest feelings of love and compassion
   • many adoption cases tug at the heartstrings