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heartbreaking

[ hahrt-brey-king ]

/ ˈhɑrtˌbreɪ kɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR heartbreaking ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing intense anguish or sorrow.

Origin of heartbreaking

First recorded in 1600–10; heartbreak + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM heartbreaking

heart·break·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby heartbreaking

heart-wrenching, heartache, heartbeat, heartbreak, heartbreaker, heartbreaking, heartbroken, heartburn, heartburning, hearted, hearten

Example sentences from the Web for heartbreaking

I mean, come on, this is the stuff of heartbreaking and hysterically funny reading, the two main ingredients for any great memoir.

The Rancid Ballad of Johnny Rotten: His Memoir Seethes With Anger—And Charm |Legs McNeil |November 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Her bouts with cancer—all three of them—were inspiring, heartbreaking, and, most of all, real.

MTV’s Diem Brown Dies: When Reality TV Starts Getting Real |Kevin Fallon |November 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The heartbreaking death of MTV reality TV personality Diem Brown proves the emotional necessity and value of the reality TV genre.

MTV’s Diem Brown Dies: When Reality TV Starts Getting Real |Kevin Fallon |November 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
As Kaci Hickox treated patients in Sierra Leone, she faced the heartbreaking task of caring for children who died in front of her.

Quarantine Turns Ebola Heroes Into Pariahs |Russell Saunders |October 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

They are as emotionally-wrought and heartbreaking as Davis describes.

Wendy Davis and the 'Good Abortion' Myth |Emily Shire |September 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The wretched father composed a heartbreaking lamentation for his lost dear ones.

History of the Jews, Vol. IV (of VI) |Heinrich Graetz
The others knew nothing of the heartbreaking in the little clicks.

Held for Orders |Frank H. Spearman
It was heartbreaking to be there beside him and yet to feel myself so far away from him.

Possessed |Cleveland Moffett
Equipment is less essential than personality, but to accomplish results with such a handicap is heartbreaking work.

The Challenge of the Country |George Walter Fiske
You know nothing of heartbreaking troubles of any sort, or you would not magnify this one!

Her Mother's Secret |Emma D. E. N. Southworth

British Dictionary definitions for heartbreaking

heartbreaking

/ (ˈhɑːtˌbreɪkɪŋ) /

adjective

extremely sad, disappointing, or pitiful

Derived forms of heartbreaking

heartbreakingly, adverb