Heartbreaking: meaning, definitions and examples
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heartbreaking
[ ˈhɑːrtˌbreɪkɪŋ ]
feeling or causing great sadness or distress
Heartbreaking is used to describe something that is extremely sad or distressing, often causing a deep emotional response in those who witness it. It can refer to situations, events, or stories that evoke strong feelings of sorrow or sympathy.
Synonyms
devastating, gut-wrenching, heart-wrenching, sorrowful, tragic.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| heartbreaking |
Use when describing a situation that deeply affects emotions and causes great sadness.
|
| devastating |
Use when describing a situation that causes extreme emotional or physical destruction and leaves long-lasting effects.
|
| gut-wrenching |
Use when describing a powerful emotional response that feels physically painful.
|
| heart-wrenching |
Use when describing an event or situation that causes intense emotional pain and sympathy.
|
| tragic |
Use when describing an event or situation that involves great suffering, loss, and usually an element of drama.
|
| sorrowful |
Use when describing a situation that is full of deep sadness and grief.
|
Examples of usage
- It was heartbreaking to see the orphaned children crying for their parents.
- The heartbreaking news of the natural disaster left the entire community in shock.
- The movie's heartbreaking ending left the audience in tears.
- The heartbreaking images of the war-torn country touched the hearts of people around the world.
- The heartbreaking reality of poverty and hunger is a harsh reminder of the inequalities in our society.
Translations
Translations of the word "heartbreaking" in other languages:
🇵🇹 desolador
🇮🇳 दिल दहला देने वाला
🇩🇪 herzzerreißend
🇮🇩 mengharukan
🇺🇦 серцерозривний
🇵🇱 rozdzierający serce
🇯🇵 胸が張り裂けるような
🇫🇷 déchirant
🇪🇸 desgarrador
🇹🇷 yürek burkan
🇰🇷 가슴 아픈
🇸🇦 مفجع
🇨🇿 srdcervoucí
🇸🇰 srdcervúci
🇨🇳 令人心碎的
🇸🇮 srce parajoč
🇮🇸 hjartnæmandi
🇰🇿 жүрек ауыртарлық
🇬🇪 გულსატკენი
🇦🇿 ürəkdağlayan
🇲🇽 desgarrador
Etymology
The term 'heartbreaking' originated in the mid-18th century, derived from the combination of 'heart' and 'breaking'. It signifies the emotional impact that something has on a person, as if it is causing their heart to break. Over the years, 'heartbreaking' has become a widely used adjective to convey deep sadness and distress.
See also: brokenhearted, dishearten, disheartened, disheartening, halfheartedly, heart, heartache, heartbeat, heartbreak, heartbreaker, heartbreakingly, heartbroken, heartening, heartfelt, heartily, heartland, heartless, heartlessly, heartlessness, heartsease, heartthrob, heartwarming, hearty.