21
soul-crushing
10
sad(adjective, distressing, tender, gloomy, miserable)
9
poignant(adjective, moving, tender, stirring, distressing)
8
pathetic(adjective, moving, sad, tender, awful)
6
moving(adjective, tender, stirring, distressing, upsetting)
6
piteous(adjective, moving, tender, pitiful, stirring)
6
pitiful(adjective, moving, sad, tender, awful)
5
distressing(adjective, awful, terrible, miserable, shocking)
5
miserable(adjective, wretched, pitiful, anguished)
5
pitiable(adjective, moving, sad, tender, awful)
5
touching(adjective, moving, tender, stirring, distressing)
5
tragic(adjective, bad, catastrophic)
4
emotional
4
grievous(adjective, severe, awful, miserable, grim)
4
heart touching
4
lamentable(adjective, sad, awful, miserable, grim)
4
stirring(adjective, moving, tender)
3
agonizing
3
dolorous(adjective, miserable, wretched, anguished)
3
heart-breaking
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APASmart Define. (2013). heart-rending thesaurus. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/heart-rending/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2013. "heart-rending thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/heart-rending/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2013, heart-rending thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/heart-rending/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "heart-rending thesaurus" 17 June 2013. Web. 20 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/heart-rending/thesaurus/synonyms>