1720 J. Willison 258 True Joy follows after true Sorrow, and Heart-Brokenness for Sin.
1825 12 Nov. 732/2 A low murmuring tone of resigned heart-brokenness.
1921 G. L. Hill xxvii. 271 She put her head down in her hands and wailed aloud a little cry of heart-brokenness.
2003 M. Griffiths xii. 180 Others have expressed outpourings of heartbrokenness and pleas for forgiveness.