1
as in sad
causing unhappiness
a heartbreaking story of a family torn asunder by war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the heartbreaking state of Main Street now that most of the businesses have closed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pathetic
deserving of one's pity
a heartbreaking attempt to escape that ends in disaster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heartbreaking
An East Oak Cliff neighborhood is grieving tonight after a heartbreaking tragedy involving a toddler.
—
Marissa Armas, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
But only 1 point has arrived since De Zerbi stepped in as Spurs let in a heartbreaking late equalizer at home to Brighton last weekend.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Happy Endings has retained a cult status among fans; PEOPLE named it one of the 10 most heartbreaking show cancellations of the 2010s.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
But a social media plea, a local news station and a volunteer walking her dog turned a heartbreaking loss into a story of community spirit.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Marissa Armas, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
But only 1 point has arrived since De Zerbi stepped in as Spurs let in a heartbreaking late equalizer at home to Brighton last weekend.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Happy Endings has retained a cult status among fans; PEOPLE named it one of the 10 most heartbreaking show cancellations of the 2010s.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
But a social media plea, a local news station and a volunteer walking her dog turned a heartbreaking loss into a story of community spirit.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heartbreaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartbreaking
Adjective
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Back in the city, Amanda and Ciara go for a walk so that Amanda can hear all about the makeup with West and then tell Ciara the very sad tale of her love story as it was related to their couple’s therapist.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
-
None at all leads to slow, pale, sad-looking growth that limps through the season.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Then something tragic takes place.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
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In 1999, 81 years after the tragic sinking, the crew members of the Tampa were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But as Notes from Underground progresses, his behavior turns from funny to pathetic to downright despicable.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
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Over pinwheeling synths, Mahesh inhabits her narrator’s misplaced longing with gooey, heart-eyed delusion and sweetly pathetic determination.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Floyd’s sincerity, the startling extremity of his concern for the comfort of others, snaps Clark out of his depressed, and depressing, complacency.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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That’s already a depressing number.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Even before the president set off this unfortunate round of gerrymandering, Democratic states such as New York and Illinois were already heavily gerrymandered.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
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He’s beaten by thugs with a crowbar for an unfortunate outburst, exploited by neighbors in the council estate and arrested, all because people don’t understand Tourette syndrome.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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These two beacons of truth and connoisseurs of mess have been bonded for over a decade, sharing the traumas of a crappy Boston dorm room and a pitiful Brooklyn dating scene.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
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Most of the time, experts say, vaguebooking boils down to a pitiful plea for attention on the part of the poster.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Injuries to key players on the Amazin’s contributed to some poor numbers as well.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Although poor students are disproportionately likely to receive special education in New York City, well-off disabled kids are the ones most acutely driving up the budget.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The reality could not have been more miserable.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
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Apple TV‘s Pluribus is described as a genre-bending original in which the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.—
Scott Huver,
Deadline,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heartbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartbreaking. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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