heartbreaking

An experience or situation that's heartbreaking is one that causes deep sadness and pain.

When we say something is heartbreaking, it usually means that it's really upsetting or sad. For example, if your favorite sports team loses a big game, it might be heartbreaking because you were really counting on them winning. Or if someone you know has gone through a tough breakup, their situation could be heartbreaking for both of them. The word can also be used to describe something that's happening in the world - like a natural disaster or a terrible accident. In these cases, people might use it to talk about how sad and awful it is.

Note: The word "heartbreaking" can also be an adjective to describe a movie or a book that makes you feel really emotional. If someone says, "I read this novel and it was heartbreaking," they probably mean that the story made them cry or feel very moved.