brokenhearted

Brokenhearted is an adjective describing a person who experiences intense emotional pain after the loss of a loved one or the end of a romantic relationship. It conveys a sense of being overwhelmed by sadness, longing, and despair, often accompanied by numbness or disorientation. The term can apply to both temporary distress and more enduring grief, depending on context.

The phrase combines “broken,” indicating damage or disruption, with “hearted,” a metaphorical reference to the heart as the seat of emotions. In English, the expression has been used since the early modern period and persists in everyday speech, literature, and media as a vivid description of emotional suffering. It is distinct from clinical terms and is generally understood as a subjective emotional state.

Brokenheartedness is commonly associated with grief, attachment loss, and disruption of expected personal bonds. While it often resolves with time, intense or prolonged feelings may contribute to mood disturbances such as persistent sadness, sleep disruption, or reduced functioning, and may warrant support or counseling in some cases.

In culture, the idea appears in poetry, novels, film, and music as a motif of unfulfilled or lost love. A notable modern usage is the 2012 single “Brokenhearted” by Karmin, which uses the term to describe emotional hurt from a breakup. The concept remains a widely used descriptor in both artistic works and everyday language.

Related terms include heartbreak, heartache, and the adjective heartbroken, with the broader theme of emotional pain following relational loss.