heartbreaking
adjective
heart·break·ing
ˈhärt-ˌbrā-kiŋ 
1
: causing intense sorrow or distress
heartbreaking news
a heartbreaking defeat
2
: producing an intense emotional reaction or response
heartbreaking beauty
Examples of heartbreaking in a Sentence
She wrote a heartbreaking story about the death of her grandfather.
It was heartbreaking to know that there was nothing I could do.
The team suffered another heartbreaking defeat.
Recent Examples on the Web
American tennis star Taylor Fritz suffered a heartbreaking loss to two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in their semifinal match at the All England Club on Friday, giving the 22-year-old phenom a chance to win three consecutive titles.
—
Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
The post continued to celebrate his supportive friendship and memorable talent before nodding to the heartbreaking fact of his death.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 11 July 2025
During the Cabinet meeting, Noem described traveling to Texas and seeing heartbreaking scenes, including around Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 people were killed.
—Sean Murphy, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
Ultimately, that group didn’t ever reach a final, let alone win one — losing knockout-phase matches in heartbreaking fashion at the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016, the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
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Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
The post continued to celebrate his supportive friendship and memorable talent before nodding to the heartbreaking fact of his death.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 11 July 2025
During the Cabinet meeting, Noem described traveling to Texas and seeing heartbreaking scenes, including around Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 people were killed.
—Sean Murphy, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
Ultimately, that group didn’t ever reach a final, let alone win one — losing knockout-phase matches in heartbreaking fashion at the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016, the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbreaking. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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