heartrending

Definitions

heart + rend ('to tear violently') + -ing = 'tearing the heart.' Something heartrending is so sad it feels as if it physically rips your heart apart. The old verb 'rend' survives mainly in this compound and a few set phrases.

Common Collocations

• 1.a heartrending story催人泪下的故事
• 2.a heartrending scene令人心碎的场面
• 3.heartrending cries撕心裂肺的哭喊
• 4.heartrending news令人揪心的消息

Example Sentences

• 1.

  It was heartrending to watch the family say goodbye at the station.

• 2.

  The film tells a heartrending story of loss and survival.

• 3.

  She gave a heartrending account of life during the war.