heartbroken

"Heartbroken" describes a very strong feeling of sadness, grief, and emotional pain. It is most often used when love ends, such as after a breakup, divorce, or rejection. But the word is not limited to romance. A person can also feel heartbroken after the death of a loved one, the loss of a pet, a painful betrayal, or the collapse of a hope they cared about deeply.

This word is stronger than "sad" or "upset." It suggests that the loss feels personal, heavy, and hard to accept. People often use it when the pain seems to affect the whole body and mind, as if life has suddenly changed in a painful way. In everyday English, it is common to hear sentences like "She was heartbroken when her friend moved away," "He was heartbroken after the breakup," or "They were heartbroken by the bad news."

The word can describe both short-term shock and longer-lasting grief. Sometimes it points to private sorrow, and sometimes it is used more broadly for deep disappointment, such as being heartbroken that a lifelong goal did not come true. Even then, it still carries the idea of real emotional damage, not just mild regret. Overall, "heartbroken" is a powerful everyday word for the kind of sadness that comes when something deeply loved, hoped for, or trusted is lost.