What does brokenhearted mean?
Brokenhearted is an adjective describing someone overwhelmed by grief or sorrow, most often following the end of a romantic relationship, the death of a loved one, or a crushing disappointment. The word draws on a vivid metaphor: the heart, long regarded in Western tradition as the seat of emotion, is imagined as having literally been broken apart. In modern usage it is largely interchangeable with "heartbroken," though it tends to sound slightly more formal, literary, or old-fashioned, and appears frequently in written narratives, obituaries, and sentimental prose. It commonly takes the prepositions "over" or "by" to signal the cause of distress, as in "brokenhearted over the news." The word carries an unambiguously serious connotation — it signals profound anguish rather than mere sadness — which makes it well suited to moments of genuine loss. Its enduring appeal lies in how directly it translates inner devastation into a physical image anyone can grasp.
adjectiveOverwhelmed by grief or sorrow, especially as a result of the end of a relationship, a loss, or a disappointment. It describes someone whose sadness feels as though their heart has been shattered.
- Suffering overwhelming grief or distress, especially from romantic loss, bereavement, or profound disappointment.
"She was brokenhearted when the rescue dog she had fostered for a year was finally adopted."
"He was brokenhearted after his childhood home was sold."
"The letter left her brokenhearted, though she tried not to show it in front of the children."
The word treats your heart like a vase that's been dropped — and English speakers have been describing love that way for over four hundred years.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of brokenhearted
Brokenhearted is formed from the verb "break" combined with "heart" and the adjectival suffix "-ed," producing a compound meaning "having a broken heart." The metaphor of the heart as the seat of the emotions dates back to antiquity, and expressions treating emotional suffering as a broken heart appear in English literature from at least the early modern period; the specific compound "brokenhearted" is attested by the early 17th century. The construction parallels the older compound "heartbroken," which developed along similar lines. Both words reflect a shared Germanic root: "heart" descends from Old English "heorte," cognate with German "Herz" and Dutch "hart," all tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱērd, which also gave Latin "cor" (source of "cordial") and Greek "kardia" (source of "cardiac").
How brokenhearted is actually used
Somewhat more formal, literary, or old-fashioned in register than its near-synonym "heartbroken," which dominates everyday speech. Often used with prepositions such as "over" or "by" to indicate the cause of grief. Carries a strong connotation of deep, sincere emotional pain rather than mild sadness.
Easily confused with brokenhearted
"Heartbroken" is by far the more common term for intense emotional grief, while "brokenhearted" is a somewhat more formal or literary variant carrying essentially the same meaning.