bleeding heart: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, often derogatory
Quick answer
What does “bleeding heart” mean?
A person who is excessively sympathetic to the suffering of others, particularly regarding social or political issues, often viewed as naive.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is excessively sympathetic to the suffering of others, particularly regarding social or political issues, often viewed as naive.
1. A person whose sympathy for others is considered exaggerated or sentimental. 2. (Literally) A heart that is bleeding, often as a symbol of grief, compassion, or suffering in art/poetry. 3. A type of flowering plant (Dicentra spectabilis) with heart-shaped pink and white flowers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used similarly in both dialects. It is perhaps slightly more entrenched in US political discourse.
Connotations
Strongly negative connotation when used by critics (implying foolish sentimentality). Can be used neutrally or self-deprecatingly by those labeled as such.
Frequency
Common in political commentary, opinion journalism, and informal debate. Less frequent in formal academic or business writing.
Grammar
How to Use “bleeding heart” in a Sentence
[Subject] is a bleeding heart (about [issue]).[Subject] accused [object] of being a bleeding heart.That's just typical bleeding-heart [noun].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bleeding heart” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His bleeding-heart views on crime are completely out of touch.
- It was a typical bleeding-heart editorial in the Guardian.
American English
- She rejected his bleeding-heart proposal as fiscally irresponsible.
- They're tired of the mayor's bleeding-heart policies.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used dismissively about corporate social responsibility initiatives deemed impractical.
Academic
Rare in formal writing. May appear in political science, sociology, or media studies when analysing partisan language.
Everyday
Common in arguments or discussions about politics, welfare, immigration, or social justice.
Technical
Not applicable, except in botany for the plant species.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bleeding heart”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bleeding heart”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bleeding heart”
- Using it as a compliment (it is almost always a criticism).
- Confusing it with the literal medical term 'myocardial rupture'.
- Misspelling as 'bleeding hart'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. It is overwhelmingly used as a derogatory term. Someone might ironically or defiantly self-identify as one, but it is not a standard compliment.
A 'humanitarian' is neutral or positive, describing someone committed to human welfare. A 'bleeding heart' is a negative label implying that such commitment is driven by excessive, naive emotion rather than reason.
Primarily, yes. Its core use is in socio-political discourse. The literal meaning (a physically bleeding heart) is uncommon in speech, and the botanical meaning is a separate, neutral term.
It depends on context. You could reject the label by emphasizing the practicality of your views, embrace it to highlight your compassion, or question the speaker's assumption that compassion is a weakness.
A person who is excessively sympathetic to the suffering of others, particularly regarding social or political issues, often viewed as naive.
Bleeding heart is usually informal, often derogatory in register.
Bleeding heart: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbliːdɪŋ ˈhɑːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbliːdɪŋ ˈhɑːrt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “My heart bleeds for you (sarcastic expression of fake sympathy).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cartoon character with a literal heart outside their chest, dripping blood for every sad story they hear – their 'bleeding heart' makes them act on emotion alone.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPASSION/EXCESSIVE EMOTION IS A PHYSICAL WOUND (The heart, seat of emotion, is injured and bleeding, showing vulnerability and lack of control).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bleeding heart' LEAST likely to be used?