heartstrings

American  

[hahrt-stringz] / ˈhɑrtˌstrɪŋz /

plural noun

1. the deepest feelings; the strongest affections.

   to tug at one's heartstrings.

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heartstrings British  

/ ˈhɑːtˌstrɪŋz /

plural noun

1. facetious deep emotions or feelings

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Etymology

Origin of heartstrings

First recorded in 1475–85; heart + strings ( def. )

Example Sentences

“The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan” strikes the right balance of sincerity in the hands of Jasmine Warga, though there’s still plenty of material to tug at the heartstrings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Sometimes, it’s easier to say “no” to a request than to resist someone pulling at your heartstrings to acquiesce to their wishes.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

Richter’s spare composition is meant to tug at the heartstrings, and it does its job just as well here, especially for unsuspecting viewers.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2025

Sparks is known for pulling at readers’ heartstrings with cinematic love stories — 11 of which have made their way to the big screen, and several of which Sparks produced himself.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

To get them interested you had to pull at the heartstrings.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides