noun

heartbreaker

HAHT-bray-kuh

Heartbreaker (noun) means someone who attracts romantic interest but doesn't return it, leaving others hurt. Example: “Everyone warned her that he was a notorious heartbreaker.”

noun

Someone who attracts romantic interest but doesn't return it, leaving others hurt.

"Everyone warned her that he was a notorious heartbreaker."

Something that causes deep disappointment or sorrow.

"Losing the final in the last minute was a real heartbreaker for the team."

How to use heartbreaker

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a person who casually breaks hearts, or an event (like a narrow sporting loss) that leaves people devastated.

Common pairings

a notorious heartbreaker a real heartbreaker of a game

Word forms

heartbreakers plural

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Everyone warned her that he was a notorious _____.

Etymology

From "heart" + "breaker" — someone or something that "breaks" hearts, whether romantically or through crushing disappointment.

Rhymes for heartbreaker

maker baker taker laker faker Quaker shaker beaker speaker breaker tweaker sneaker

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Frequently asked questions

What does “heartbreaker” mean?

The word “heartbreaker” means someone who attracts romantic interest but doesn't return it, leaving others hurt. In plain terms, either a person who casually breaks hearts, or an event (like a narrow sporting loss) that leaves people devastated.

How do you pronounce “heartbreaker”?

“Heartbreaker” is pronounced HAHT-bray-kuh (/ˈhɑɹt.bɹeɪ.kɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “heartbreaker” in a sentence?

Here is “heartbreaker” used in a sentence: “Everyone warned her that he was a notorious heartbreaker.”

What part of speech is “heartbreaker”?

“Heartbreaker” is a noun.

How many meanings does “heartbreaker” have?

“Heartbreaker” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who attracts romantic interest but doesn't return it, leaving others hurt.