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Definition of heartstring

heartstring

/ˈhɑːrtˌstrɪŋ/
heart · string
Plural:heartstrings
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heartstring Lexical Profile

heartstring Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

One's deepest feelings of love, sympathy, pity, or compassion (usually used in the plural).

Example

"The documentary about rescued animals really tugged at the audience's heartstrings."

2

In historical anatomy, a tendon, nerve, or fibrous cord believed to support and hold the heart in place.

Example

"Early medical texts described the heartstrings as vital cords keeping the organ suspended within the chest."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for heartstring

Word Nuance & Usage

Almost exclusively used in the plural form ('heartstrings') and frequently found in idiomatic expressions such as 'to tug at (or pull on) someone's heartstrings', meaning to evoke deep sympathy or affection.

• Nearby Words

heartsick
heartstopping
heartstoppingly
heartstring
heartstrings
heartthrob
heartwarming

Word Origin & Etymology

Dating back to the late 15th century, the word is a compound of 'heart' and 'string', originally referring to the tendons or nerves once believed in medieval anatomy to brace and sustain the physical heart.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Heartstring. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/heartstring
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