Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Overpowering with anguish; deeply afflictive; very distressing.

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

  • adjective Causing intense grief; overpowering with anguish; very distressing.

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

  • adjective That causes great grief, anguish or distress
  • adjective That elicits deep sympathy

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

  • adjective causing or marked by grief or anguish

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • A heartrending story written in heartrending style, compassionate and pinpoint accurate as usual.

    Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands. « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2008

  • Stunning, charming, and heartrending is Michel Gagné's opening number, "Underworld," an entirely wordless piece about a brave little fox.

    Archive 2007-03-01 2007

  • Stunning, charming, and heartrending is Michel Gagné's opening number, "Underworld," an entirely wordless piece about a brave little fox.

    Book Review: Flight Volume 3 2007

  • He described the subsequent scene as "heartrending," adding that, were it up to him, he "would remove every Indian tomorrow beyond the reach of the white men who, like vultures, are watching, ready to pounce upon their prey and strip them of everything they have."

    Excerpts: 'Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge's View' Stephen Breyer 2010

  • Delegates had no excuse for not doing everything possible to uplift the disadvantaged, because they knew the "heartrending" reality the poor experienced.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2004

  • And so the department began to gear up for a long spell of defensive maneuvering, knowing exactly what kind of heartrending twaddle would be coming from the brave and fearless foot soldiers of the fifth estate.

    DarklyDreamingDexter 2004

  • And so the department began to gear up for a long spell of defensive maneuvering, knowing exactly what kind of heartrending twaddle would be coming from the brave and fearless foot soldiers of the fifth estate.

    Darkly Dreaming Dexter Lindsay, Jeff 2004

  • "I am quite sure," she said, with a kind of heartrending cheerfulness,

    The Clique of Gold ��mile Gaboriau 1852

  • Paul Carey, who was Ernie Harwell's partner on Tigers broadcasts for 19 seasons, said it's "heartrending" to see Harwell deal with his terminal cancer.

    Michiguide.com: Michigan's Guide to Radio and Television Broadcasting Mike Austerman 2010

  • -- Paul Carey, who was Ernie Harwell's partner on Tigers broadcasts for 19 seasons, said it's "heartrending" to see Harwell deal with his terminal cancer.

    Freep.com - RSS 2010

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