heartsick
/ˈhɑːtsɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːrtsɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhärt-ˌsik/ (ame, mw)
heartsick — adjective
- heartsickpositive
- more heartsickcomparative
- most heartsicksuperlative
1. feeling such intense unhappiness or emotional pain that it overwhelms you, usual
feeling such intense unhappiness or emotional pain that it overwhelms you, usually because of losing a loved one, being separated from someone important, or experiencing a deep disappointment.
After her grandfather passed away, Mei-Lin felt heartsick for months and could barely eat.
heartsick + for + duration (for months)
Standing heartsick by the window, Ingrid read Henrik's final letter one last time.
standing heartsick — participle + adjective phrase
The Patel family felt heartsick when the bank refused their loan for the shop.
Watching the children lose their school in the fire made Dr. Okafor heartsick.
Diego sat heartsick at the kitchen table, waiting for news of his son.
- heartbroken
very similar in meaning but more common in everyday speech; heartsick has a slightly more literary or formal tone
- devastated
emphasizes the destructive emotional impact; stronger than heartsick
- grief-stricken
specifically tied to grief from a death or major loss; more intense
- despondent
focuses on hopelessness and lack of spirit; heartsick has a more emotional, less cognitive feel
文法句型
be heartsick
feel heartsick
become heartsick
heartsick + over/at/about + cause
用法筆記
Typically used as a predicate adjective after feel, be, or become. Common prepositions that follow heartsick include over, at, and about, which introduce the cause of the sadness. Less commonly found before a noun as an attributive adjective (e.g., a heartsick mother).