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heartbroken

heartbroken

67 3.2
Feeling very sad because of a loss or disappointment
  • adjective
  • /ˈhɑrtˌbroʊkən/
translation icon : desconsolado
  • When my father died, I was heartbroken for months.

Have you been heartbroken by someone in a relationship?

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Examples

  • Leaving behind a heartbroken husband and a very ill little girl.

  • Seeing her this way, I felt heartbroken, because our Mama has been sad and unwell.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Have you been heartbroken by someone in a relationship?

  • Oh, that poor, heartbroken little girl.

  • And she came in for her next appointment, and she was absolutely heartbroken, absolutely crestfallen.

  • I was so heartbroken when we reviewed her fMRI study.

  • It was devastating and I was heartbroken and overwhelmed with anger.

  • I was really heartbroken.

  • When my father died, I was heartbroken for months.

  • Oh, that poor, heartbroken little girl.

Synonyms

sad
vsheartbroken
1.0

Feeling unhappy or upset because of something

is much stronger, denoting overwhelming grief or deep sorrow
distraught
vsheartbroken
86 7.2

Being very upset and worried so you cannot think clearly

is more about deep sorrow and grief than frantic anxiety
in tears
vsheartbroken
64 2.0

Crying because you feel very sad or touched

is an emotional display that may be temporary, not always deep sorrow
tearful
vsheartbroken
26 1.8

Showing you are about to cry because of a strong feeling

is a visible sign of overwhelming sorrow rather than lasting grief
weepy
vsheartbroken
20 3.7

Feeling like you want to cry easily

is less intense and may be a mild, easily triggered sadness
bereft
vsheartbroken
  • Literature
19 7.5

Feeling very sad and alone because someone you love or something important is missing

is sorrow tied to loss or absence rather than general unhappiness
mournful
vsheartbroken
18 3.9

Feeling deep sadness because of a loss

is more intense and tied to deep grief rather than reflective sadness
broken
vsheartbroken
18 3.4

Very weak because of illness, pain, or hard times

is focused on deep sorrow and grief rather than general weakening
sorrowful
vsheartbroken
14 3.6

Feeling very sad because of loss or disappointment

is concentrated on great grief and overwhelming sorrow rather than mild sadness
grief-stricken
vsheartbroken
12 6.7

Very sad and shocked after losing someone close

is focused on great sorrow from loss rather than milder sadness
inconsolable
vsheartbroken
10 7.2

Very sad and not able to be comforted

is extreme sorrow that cannot be eased unlike more recoverable sadness
bereaved
vsheartbroken
  • Formal
10 7.4

Sad because someone they loved died

is general deep sorrow from loss or disappointment not limited to death
brokenhearted
vsheartbroken
7 3.7

Feeling very sad because of a loss or disappointment

has identical meaning and differs only in form or style
heartsick
vsheartbroken
6 6.3

Feeling very sad because of loss or disappointment

is sorrow that is deeply upsetting rather than mild unhappiness
crestfallen
vsheartbroken
5 7.5

Sad and disappointed because what you hoped for did not happen

is sorrow that is more overwhelming and tied to loss or grief
unconsoled
vsheartbroken
1 7.5

Not comforted after feeling sad or disappointed

is sorrow that cannot be comforted rather than simple sadness
grieving
vsheartbroken
3.4

Feeling very sad after someone you love dies

is the ongoing process of intense sorrow rather than a single feeling
heavyhearted
vsheartbroken
5.4

Feeling very sad and down

is more intense and focused on overwhelming grief rather than general sadness
gutted
vsheartbroken
  • Slang
8.2

Extremely disappointed and upset after something goes wrong

is about overwhelming sorrow from loss rather than mostly disappointment

Antonyms

108 1.0

A feeling of being happy with what you have

11 4.0

Feeling very happy and excited because of good news or success

How Sad

inconsolable
10 7.2
heartbroken
67 3.2
gutted
  • Slang
8.2
sad
1.0
upset
1.0

Surface Forms

heartbroken positive

Morphology

heartbroken = heart + broken (transparent) = heart + broken

A direct combination of 'heart' + 'broken' meaning 'having a broken heart', so the meaning is clearly derivable.

Etymology

Heartbroken joins heart, the 'center of feelings', and broken, meaning 'broken in pieces' like a smashed cup. So, being heartbroken is like your heart feels smashed, which explains the deep sorrow the word means.