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
1
Someone who attracts romantic interest but doesn't return it, leaving others hurt.
"Everyone warned her that he was a notorious heartbreaker."
2
Something that causes deep disappointment or sorrow.
"It's a heartbreaker, as I was reminded just now when I went to get the chapter reference, reread it, and started bawling."
— George Saunders, The Braindead Megaphone (2007)
"Losing the final in the last minute was a real heartbreaker for the team."
How to use heartbreaker
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- heartbreakers
Fill the gap
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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
See all rhymes for heartbreaker →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.
