heartrending

About 0.16 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective That causes great grief, anguish or distress.
2. adjective That elicits deep sympathy.

   I am suddenly assaulted by the most heartrending puppy-dog eyes I've ever seen as Emi pouts.

Similar words

heartbreaking grievous sorrowful heart-rending heart-breaking heartwrenching heart-wrenching tormentuous excruciating harrowing

Often followed by

to and cry scenes cries scene story sobs stories

Word family

heartrendingly