Heartrending (adjective)

Causing intense sorrow or distress; poignant.

Origin:

A compound of heart and rending, from old english rǣnan meaning 'to tear'.

Examples:

1. The heartrending cries of the wounded echoed through the battlefield.
2. Her heartrending story of loss touched the hearts of all who heard it.
3. The heartrending sight of the homeless children broke our hearts.
4. His heartrending performance in the play brought tears to our eyes.
5. The heartrending sounds of the symphony left us all in tears.