heartache
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- heartaching adjective
Etymology
Origin of heartache
before 1000; Middle English hert ache, Old English heort ece; heart, ache
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 heartache, the times when I was hungry. My whole journey was: I have to learn how to figure it out.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
He said any delay to the criminal justice process would bring "more trauma and heartache" for victims' families.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
Whatever happens, investors should remember that there is potential for heartache, too, when using stocks to bet on the outcome of an event.
From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026
It’s a simple step that could save you a lot of heartache if something is wrong, especially if you’re trying to get a mortgage or rent an apartment.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 2026
We felt the joy of a mission accomplished and the heartache of a lost comrade.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
