HEARTRENDING Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

heartrending

adjective

ˈhärt-ˌren-diŋ

Definition of heartrending

as in sad

causing unhappiness couldn't bear to see the heartrending photos of victims of the famine

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in painful

hard to accept or bear especially emotionally a heartrending choice between saving his daughter or his son

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Adjective

State Drive, an ugly black roadway, separates the Science Center and its new addition from the park’s Rose Garden, and serves as a sad connector to the rest of the park.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
As more details came out, the sad truth of Perry’s relapses and drug hustle emerged.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

Flanagan incorporates video interviews as a framing device, in which surviving witnesses recount their memories of the tragic events.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
The best memories can sometimes come to the forefront, but Jay’s first memories of his dad are really tragic ones.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of tragic

Adjective

Maybe the most vivid reminder was what happened after a similarly depressing defeat in 2021 in the last game in which Mahomes played and the Chiefs managed only a field goal.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
In another depressing week for the UK’s public broadcaster, there were more cuts, talk of even more cuts and programs scrapped, as the BBC’s desperate bid to make the books work continues under former Google EMEA chief Matt Brittin.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of depressing

Adjective

For many people, however, the presentation instead bears an uncanny and unfortunate resemblance to imagery used in Nazi-era Germany.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
The Giannis Antetokounmpo era is off to an unfortunate start, as the Heat is 0-2 to start a season for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of unfortunate

Adjective

Disease that has spread to those organs is associated with poorer treatment outcomes.

— Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
They were frustrated with teacher shortages and poor conditions at schools, including overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated buildings.

— James Cirrone , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of poor

Browse Nearby Words

heartlessness

heartrending

hearts

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Heartrending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heartrending. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of heartrending

adjective

Example Sentences

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