heartrending

adjective

ˈhärt-ˌren-diŋ How to pronounce heartrending (audio)
Definition of heartrendingnext
1
as in sad
causing unhappiness couldn't bear to see the heartrending photos of victims of the famine

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2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally a heartrending choice between saving his daughter or his son

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3
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress heartrending memories of all the terrible crimes he'd committed and was sorry for now

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4
as in pathetic
deserving of one's pity the heartrending sight of a starving child holding out his hands for food

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of heartrending In the film’s most heartrending passage, when her odyssey has ended, this little girl, in a moment of quiet grace, sees just that. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Feb. 2026 For Emma, the heartrending decision became clear came the night the police descended on her North Miami neighborhood. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026 His appearance, stopping them in their tracks, is one of the most heartrending moments of any movie. — John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026 The air was cooler up here, the signage sparing, the views of granite domes and uninterrupted forest vast and heartrending. — Gloria Liu, Outside Online, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heartrending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heartrending
  1. sad
  2. painful
  3. tragic
  4. pathetic
  5. depressing
  6. harsh
  7. unfortunate
  8. poor
Adjective
  • That might also explain the movie’s attempts to supercharge its few action sequences, as if the filmmakers realized belatedly that a sad book without much incident wasn’t exactly prime summer studio release fodder.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Obviously, a really sad story and hard to listen to at times.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Be sure to start below the injury and wrap upward, overlapping each layer but never so tightly that fingers or toes become numb or painful.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Its absence does not make the eventual adjustment less painful.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • That's the common denominator, to be quite honest, between the success stories and the tragic stories.
    — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Even Treadwell, who spend thirteen summers in Alaska compiling some 100 hours of bear footage, wasn’t even remotely prepared for his encounters, evidenced by his tragic death at the hands of one of his beloved grizzlies.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tragic
Adjective
  • The outfield production continues to be a concern, and the overall offensive production is pathetic.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Barkley got a pathetic 34% of team rushing attempts inside the 5-yard line (37th among RBs).
    — Michael Salfino, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of pathetic
Adjective
  • Climate change, depressing and overwhelming, falls into that category.
    — Peter Prengaman, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Keegan’s first decision at Newcastle as manager in 1992 was to fumigate the depressing training ground.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • Scott London Every year, Black Rock City appears on a dry lakebed in one of Nevada’s harshest areas, then disappears just as fast.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Hig has bunkered down with a grouchy companion, Bangley (Josh Brolin), who thrives in this harsh world.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • Hall was excellent for Newcastle against Liverpool in the clubs’ season opener on Sunday, and unfortunate to concede a stoppage-time penalty for the equaliser.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • People have an unfortunate tendency to make this song sound dour, but Garcia fills it with energy.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • The petition argues Mays’ language during the trial revealed something deeper than a poor defense strategy — a worldview that dehumanized the man he was supposed to defend.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • There remains work to be done, as evidenced by their poor showing in last Thursday’s 41-17 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
    — Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor

Browse Nearby Words

heartlessness
heartrending
hearts
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Cite this Entry

“Heartrending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartrending. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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