heartache

noun

heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk How to pronounce heartache (audio)
: anguish of mind : sorrow

Examples of heartache in a Sentence

I've had more than my share of heartaches in my life. the heartache she felt when she saw the innocent victims of the war
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In the doc, Bono re-creates multiple conversations with his dad across time — playing both roles by turning his head from side to side, finding humor and heartache as the camera cuts between the sides of the discussion. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 30 May 2025 This mismatch could explain why some AI companionships intensify feelings of loneliness or heartache over time: the body is asking for the physiological correlates of love and receiving none. Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025 Her understanding of how to set up payoffs with hilarity or heartache gives the show its powers. David John Chávez, Mercury News, 22 May 2025 Through amazing craftsmanship and technique, the invisible heartache becomes the main character in this all-too-familiar tale. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for heartache

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartache was in 1578

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heartache.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartache. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

heartache

noun
heart·​ache ˈhärt-ˌāk How to pronounce heartache (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on heartache

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