heartbreaking
adjective, noun
heartbreaking is spelled H-E-A-R-T-B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G: 13 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 3.7 times per million words in written English, the 13,496th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, heartbreaking means “That causes great grief, anguish or distress” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in heartbreaking?
| Letters | 13: H-E-A-R-T-B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 3.7 times per million words; the 13,496th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is heartbreaking?
Heartbreaking appears 3.7 times per million words in written English, the 13,496th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce heartbreaking?
Heartbreaking has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Words people confuse with heartbreaking
Also written: heart-breaking (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of heartbreaking
- more heartbreaking comparative
- most heartbreaking superlative
- heart-breaking
- heartbreakings plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does heartbreaking mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
That causes great grief, anguish or distress.
Near-synonyms: heartrending, heartwrenching
noun
- 1
The breaking of a heart; great grief, anguish or distress.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Heartbreaking in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense That causes great grief, anguish or distress:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | déchirant, navrant |
| German | herzzerreißend |
| Portuguese | de partir o coração |
| Spanish | desgarrador, desolador, devastador |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does heartbreaking come from?
From heart + breaking.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).