heartache
n. C / Un. a feeling of great sadness or emotional pain, usually because a relationship has ended or someone you love has died.
n. a state of intense emotional distress or sorrow, typically resulting from unrequited love or the loss of a loved one.
The breakup caused her a lot of heartache.
After years of heartache and failed attempts, the couple finally managed to adopt a child.
The novel explores the profound heartache of a soldier returning to a home that no longer feels familiar after decades of conflict.
From Middle English heorteece, heorte-ece, from Old English heorteċe, equivalent to heart + ache. Blends both literal and figurative aspects, as emotional distress sometimes includes a physical element of chest discomfort. Compare heartbreak § Etymology, where the literal aspect is lesser, though it still can be said to have a physiological basis.
Uncountable when referring to the general state of sorrow; countable when referring to specific instances or causes of grief.