1
: a garden plant (Lamprocapnos spectabilis synonym Dicentra spectabilis) of the poppy family with racemes of usually deep pink or white drooping heart-shaped flowers
broadly
: any of several related plants (genus Dicentra)
2
disparaging
: a person who shows extravagant sympathy especially for an object of alleged persecution
… he spoke scornfully of "the hotshot do-gooders," those he equates with hypocritical limousine liberals or … Pollyannish bleeding hearts …—Jason Horowitz
bleed·ing-heart
ˈblē-diŋ-ˈhärt
: feeling or showing excessive or extravagant sympathy especially for an object of alleged persecution
—used as a term of disparagement for people with politically liberal opinions
… was often described as … a bleeding-heart liberal because he lent his name to so many left-wing groups.—Patricia Bosworth
Cite this Entry
“Bleeding heart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bleeding%20heart. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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