Entry Word: tearful

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears <a tearful woman who can be counted on to cry at every wedding, anniversary, and funeral>

Synonyms lachrymose, teary

Related Words emotional; maudlin, mawkish, sentimental; bawling, blubbering, crying, keening, sniffling, sniveling, sobbing, wailing, weeping, whimpering; bemoaning, bewailing; doleful, dolorous, grieving, mournful, plaintive; funereal, gloomy, lugubrious; brokenhearted, sad, sorrowful, woeful

Near Antonyms grinning, laughing, smiling; blithe, blithesome, cheerful, cheery, gay, happy, lighthearted, lightsome, merry, mirthful, sunny

2 causing unhappiness <the tearful end to what had once been a close friendship> — see sad 2