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View synonyms for heartthrob

heartthrob

[ hahrt-throb ]

noun

  1. a rapid beat or pulsation of the heart.
  2. a passionate or sentimental emotion.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of heartthrob1

First recorded in 1840–50; heart + throb
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Example Sentences

With those roles, Murray catapulted into a star, a heartthrob with a capital H. He became a fixture of the tabloids and every teen girl’s crush, with his winning smile, bad-boy charm and tattoos.

There is something quite bold about telling people you look like someone famous - especially if your supposed doppelganger is one of the world’s biggest heartthrobs.

From BBC

His breakout role in a popular soap opera titled “Love and Truth” in 1984 led to a heady career as a national heartthrob.

What was it like to be the heartthrob in Pink Floyd?

At least three of the would-be heartthrobs tear up while discussing the show’s impact on their lives.

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Related Words

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More About Heartthrob

What does heartthrob mean?

A heartthrob is someone, especially a pop culture figure, who is considered an object of romantic desire. Traditionally, the word has been almost exclusively applied to young men.

The word is especially used in the phrase teen heartthrob, referring to a young person, especially a musician or actor, who is the object of teenagers’ romantic affection, especially that of teenage girls. Teen heartthrobs are sometimes teenagers themselves, though they’re often in their 20s or sometimes even older.

This popular sense of heartthrob comes from the use of the word to mean a sweetheart—someone’s romantic partner.

Less commonly, heartthrob can be used as another word for a rapid heartbeat. Based on this meaning, it can also be used figuratively to refer to a passionate emotion. Neither of these senses are commonly used anymore.

Example: Every generation has a heartthrob idolized for their good looks, talent, and charismatic personality.

Where does heartthrob come from?

The first records of heartthrob come from around the 1800s, but its original sense referred to what someone’s heart does when it experiences a strong emotion—it starts throbbing, or beating faster. And this is what happens when fans see a person they consider a heartthrob—their heart throbs and swoons with affection. The pop culture sense of the word referring to an attractive teen idol is first recorded around the 1920s. The term arose in parallel with forms of mass media that allowed young viewers to idolize the attractive young person they saw on screen.

Who is your generation’s teen heartthrob? In the 1920s, there was silent film star Rudolph Valentino. In the ’40s, it was Frank Sinatra singing in front of screaming bobbysoxers. The screaming continued with Elvis Presley in the ’50s and the Beatles in the ’60s. Fast-forward to the ’80s, when most teen comedy movies had their own heartthrob. In the ’90s, it was Leonardo DiCaprio and a lot of boy band members—a trend that has continued with the popularity of K-pop. The related term teen idol isn’t limited to just young men.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for heartthrob?

What are some words that share a root or word element with heartthrob

What are some words that often get used in discussing heartthrob?

 

How is heartthrob used in real life?

Heartthrob is most commonly applied to famous young men considered attractive.

 

 

Try using heartthrob!

Is heartthrob used correctly in the following sentence?

He was a teen heartthrob in the ’80s, but he matured beyond the romantic comedies of his early years.

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