heartstring
noun
Did you know?
Heartstring Has a Medical History
Before a love song could tug at your heartstrings, the job was more likely to be accomplished by a surgeon: the word heartstring used to refer to a nerve believed to sustain the heart. You might recognize the word's second syllable in hamstring, which refers to both a group of tendons at the back of the knee and to any of three muscles at the backs of the upper legs. It's also apparent in a rare dialect term for the Achilles tendon: heel string. And in light of these terms, it's not surprising to know that string itself was at one time used independently to refer to bodily cords like tendons and ligaments.
Examples of heartstring in a Sentence
Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
His story has tugged at the heartstrings of thousands of viewers online, reigniting faith in pet rescue stories.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
The viewing party tugged at the heartstrings of their costars, who reacted in the comments section.
—Sophie Dodd, People.com, 6 May 2025
In a quiet Toronto neighborhood, a chocolate Labrador named Goose is making waves—not with tricks or viral antics, but with a friendship that's tugging at heartstrings.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heartstring
Cite this Entry
“Heartstring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartstring. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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heartstring
noun
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