: one that causes heartbreak

Examples of heartbreaker in a Sentence

The team's most recent loss was a real heartbreaker.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After Sunday night’s heartbreaker of an overtime loss to the Indiana Fever, Atlanta stands just 3-8 on the season against the four teams ahead of them in the standings. Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026 And the four-part end of the Russos’ story — at least for now — was a heartbreaker. Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026 Last year, the All-Stars lost their first game, won twice, and lost a heartbreaker to Oklahoma on a walk-off home run. Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026 Of course, Boone’s exasperation came from watching the Yankees lose their second game in extra innings in a row to the Chicago White Sox, this time a 2-1 heartbreaker in 11 frames. Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for heartbreaker

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartbreaker was in 1837

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Cite this Entry

“Heartbreaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbreaker. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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