heartfelt

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a nounapproving

   Showing strong, honest emotion that comes from deep inside a person.

   Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a heartfelt apology.

   Patterns

   • a heartfelt something

   She wrote him a heartfelt letter of thanks.

   The team offered their heartfelt condolences to the family.

   He gave a heartfelt apology on live television.

2. 2adjectivecomparableapproving

   Felt or expressed with great sincerity, without any pretending or show.

   Grammar: Can also follow a linking verb: her speech was heartfelt.

   Patterns

   • be heartfelt

   His words were simple but heartfelt.

   The crowd's cheer was loud and heartfelt.

   I want to make a heartfelt plea for help.

Word forms

Common combinations

heartfelt thanks

We send our heartfelt thanks to every volunteer.

heartfelt apology

The manager offered a heartfelt apology.

heartfelt plea

Her heartfelt plea moved the jury.

heartfelt tribute

Fans paid a heartfelt tribute at the memorial.

heartfelt sympathy

Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.

Synonyms and how they differ

sincere

Sincere describes honesty in general, but heartfelt adds a warm sense of deep feeling.

genuine

Genuine means real rather than fake and can describe objects too, while heartfelt only describes feelings or words.

earnest

Earnest suggests serious purpose and effort, whereas heartfelt stresses emotion.

wholehearted

Wholehearted means with complete commitment, often to an action, while heartfelt is about the feeling behind words.

Opposites

Word family

heart noun

the center of emotion

heartfeltly adverb

very rare, with deep feeling

heartily adverb

in a warm and enthusiastic way

hearty adjective

warm and sincere, or large and filling

Commonly confused: heartfelt or hearty? heartfelt or heartless?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “heartfelt”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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