heart-rending Hear it!

heart-rending Definition

heart·-rending (härt′ren′diŋ)

adjective

causing much grief or mental anguish

heart-rending Related Forms
heart′·-rend′ingly adverb
heart-rending Synonyms

heart-rending

modif.

moving, piteous, grievous, mournful; see pitiful 1, sad 2.

heart-rending Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

  • hear: Dear Paul, Kind of heart-rending to hear of the replay of ten years ago out there on the Green Ridge.

Modifies a noun

  • tale: Further back there were the usual heart-rending tales of everyday folk in the back half of an F1 grid.
  • story: Steve Leonard was clearly touched by Pixie's heart-rending story.
  • story: There is tremendous pathos in the heart-rending life stories explored in each of these pieces.
  • scene: He finally tracks her down to her dad's houseboat where, in heart-rending scenes, Honey tries to explain how she feels.
  • moment: Dad Mark, 45, remembered the heart-rending moment the family were told of the crash.

Modifying Another Word

  • often: I was constantly told amazing - and often heart-rending - personal stories about the tsunami.
  • yet: Anyone who went to sea in merchant ships between 1939 and 1945 will find this volume at once exhilarating and yet heart-rending.