heartrending

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled heart-rendingly

US /ˈhɑːrtˌrɛn.dɪŋ/ UK /ˈhɑːtˌren.dɪŋ/ See IPA manual

Freq #86649

Meanings

1

adj
causing intense grief, distress, or sympathy

Her heartrending sobs could be heard from the next room.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · causing intense grief,... heartbreaking tragic piteous

More moving

Opposites

heartwarming cheerful

Word family

Forms heartrendingly

Derived forms heartrendingly

Related forms heart-rendingheartbreak

Etymology

A compound of heart and rending, from rend, 'to tear apart.' The image of tearing the heart expresses extreme emotional pain. Heart-rending is a common alternative spelling.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

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