Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Emotional anguish; sorrow.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Pain in or of the heart.
  • noun Sorrow; anguish of the mind.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Sorrow; anguish of mind; mental pang.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Very sincere and difficult emotional problems or stress

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English *hertache, from Old English *heortæċe, heortece ("heartache"), equivalent to heart +‎ ache.

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Examples

  • Funny how people can spend money on cable or eating out or junk food or untold number of shoes or clothes or whatever, but then bulk or complain about paying for something that can actually help them. financial heartache is a necessity. student loan debt: Michelle, I'm a college professor who has been at this for just over 20 years.

    Color of Money Live Michelle Singletary 2010

  • Lansens's portrait of a woman who hides behind the Kenmore as protection from life's heartache is earthy and primal in its pain. ...

    The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens: Book summary 2010

  • And God knows how many other people were sitting in that church having also suffered heartache from a spouse's affair.

    Campaigning in Kentucky, Clinton hears sermon on infidelity 2008

  • Who will tell us that unending and expanding prosperity with home values constantly rising and a citizenry always able to afford them is a fantasy that is bound to end in heartache for those who buy into it?

    mjh's blog — 2008 — February 2008

  • I just can't imagine any democrat voting for McCain in November – or writing in Hillary's name – that would doom our country to more of the same heartache from the past 7+ years.

    Poll: Obama gaining support with key Clinton demographics 2008

  • The heartache is so hard - I think it is the unconditional love that is so hard to let go of.

    Requiem For Our Eric Dave Hingsburger 2006

  • Edna O'Brien talks about how her new book, Wild Decembers — in which heartache is prefigured by a tractor — fits in with her own "inner gnaw."

    On Fiction 2005

  • Edna O'Brien talks about how her new book, Wild Decembers — in which heartache is prefigured by a tractor — fits in with her own "inner gnaw."

    On Fiction 2005

  • Edna O'Brien talks about how her new book, Wild Decembers — in which heartache is prefigured by a tractor — fits in with her own "inner gnaw."

    Bringing Life to Life 2001

  • Edna O'Brien talks about how her new book, Wild Decembers — in which heartache is prefigured by a tractor — fits in with her own "inner gnaw."

    A Reader's Manifesto 2001

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