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Dictionary.com
Definitions

heart-rending

ADJECTIVE
heart-wrenching
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agonizing distressing gut-wrenching harrowing heartbreaking heartrending painful piteous sorrowful tormenting
STRONG
moving pitiful sad tear-jerking touching tragic
Antonyms
STRONGEST
happy heartwarming pleasant pleasing
ADJECTIVE
heartbreaking
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affecting agonizing calamitous dire distressing heart-wrenching poignant sad touching tragic unfortunate
WEAK
afflictive bitter cheerless deplorable grievous joyless lamentable moving pitiful regrettable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
blessed comforting fortunate good happy lucky unaffecting
WEAK
exhilarating heartwarming joyous wonderful
ADJECTIVE
distressing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deplorable dreadful frightening painful poignant regrettable sad troublesome
STRONG
heart-wrenching nagging
WEAK
afflictive distressful fearful grievous woeful
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful delightful easy fortunate happy lucky pleasant
WEAK
comforting
ADJECTIVE
grievous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
appalling atrocious calamitous damaging deplorable dire dreadful egregious flagrant glaring heinous intolerable lamentable monstrous outrageous shameful shocking tragic unbearable
WEAK
afflicting agonizing dismal disquieting distressing disturbing grave harmful heavy hurtful injurious mournful offensive onerous oppressive pathetic pitiful sad sharp sorrowful taxing tough troublesome upsetting villainous weighty wounding
Antonyms
STRONGEST
acceptable bearable blessed comforting concealed delightful favorable fortunate good happy hidden little lucky magnificent mild pleasing tolerable wonderful
WEAK
harmless pleasant
ADJECTIVE
harrowing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agonizing chilling distressing disturbing excruciating heart-wrenching heartbreaking painful terrifying torturous traumatic
STRONG
alarming racking soaring tearing tormenting torturing
WEAK
nerve-racking
Antonyms
STRONGEST
pleasant
WEAK
calming pleasing unfrightening
ADJECTIVE
poignant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter disturbing emotional heartbreaking heartrending moving passionate pathetic sad sentimental touching
WEAK
agitating agonizing distressing impressive intense perturbing piteous pitiful sorrowful upsetting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful happy indifferent unaffecting unemotional unmoving wonderful
WEAK
blah blunt calm dull numb pleasant soothing
ADJECTIVE
sad
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bad dark depressing dismal miserable moving pathetic pitiful poignant regrettable serious sorry tragic
STRONG
discouraging disheartening dreary grave joyless melancholic saddening tear-jerking upsetting
WEAK
calamitous deplorable disastrous discomposing dispiriting funereal grievous hapless lachrymose lamentable lugubrious oppressive pitiable shabby tearful unsatisfactory wretched
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advantageous blessed bright cheerful encouraging fortunate glad good happy hopeful joyful light lucky pleasant right unaffecting
ADJECTIVE
touching
Synonyms
STRONGEST
heartbreaking pathetic poignant sad stirring stunning wistful
STRONG
compassionate melting tender
WEAK
emotive impressive mind-blowing piteous pitiable pitiful responsive sympathetic tear-jerking
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful happy
STRONG
hard
WEAK
unaffecting unmoving
ADJECTIVE
tragic
Synonyms
STRONGEST
appalling awful calamitous cataclysmic deadly deplorable destructive dire disastrous dreadful fatal fateful grievous grim harrowing heartbreaking miserable painful pathetic pitiful sad shocking terrible unfortunate
WEAK
adverse anguished crushing deathly desolate doleful forlorn hapless ill-fated ill-starred lamentable mournful pitiable ruinous sorrowful unhappy woeful wretched
Antonyms
STRONGEST
blessed calming cheerful comforting delightful encouraging excellent fortunate good great happy harmless healthful healthy hopeful joyful joyous life-giving lucky nice pleasant pleasing trivial unimportant wholesome wonderful worthwhile
WEAK
advantageous successful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The feature mixes audio of the girl's heart-rending real final phonecalls with the Red Crescent, with a visual dramatisation using actors to represent the volunteers.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

That leaves IVF patients with the heart-rending decision of when to stop trying.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

A pivot comes midway, opening final rooms of colorful acrylic portraits, with four heart-rending drawings of Isherwood’s last weeks of life.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2025

And “Normal Thing,” a grower from Abrams’ latest album, was transformed with a heart-rending drum build.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2024

But the two divinities of Earth knew heart-rending grief.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton