heartbreak
/hɑːt.bɹeɪk/noun
Intense sorrow or emotional pain, usually caused by losing someone or being badly disappointed.
Example sentences
- “She wrote her first album about the heartbreak of her divorce.”
- “Losing the final in the last minute was pure heartbreak for the fans.”
Strongly associated with romantic loss, though grief and crushed hopes qualify too. The adjective splits neatly: heartbroken people, heartbreaking news.