noun
a person or thing that evokes strong emotions, especially sadness or sympathy
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The movie was a real heart-tugger, eliciting emotions from even the most stoic of viewers.
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That book is a total heart-tugger, I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
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The ending of that show was a major heart-tugger, I was crying for hours.
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The song lyrics were a heart-tugger, reminding me of a lost love from long ago.