tearful

adjective

tear·​ful ˈtir-fəl 

1

: flowing with or accompanied by tears

tearful entreaties

2

: causing tears : teary

a tearful eulogy

tearfully

ˈtir-fə-lē 

adverb

tearfulness noun

Synonyms of tearful

• emotional
• weeping
• crying
• teary
• weepy
• lachrymose
• sobbing
• sad
• grieving

Examples of tearful in a Sentence

He looked up at me with his tearful eyes and asked for help.

the tearful parting of two lovers

Recent Examples on the Web

During a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Figueroa’s family members grew tearful while the state laid out details of the case. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026

The Brothers to the Rescue hanger at the Opa-locka Airport was packed with loved ones, families and tearful members of the Cuban exile community. —Hank Tester, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026

There were no tearful goodbyes as the soldiers each marked the end of this extraordinary journey. —Carol Guzy, NPR, 22 Feb. 2026

After nabbing a bronze medal in the twenty-kilometre biathlon, Lægreid took an interview that quickly became a tearful monologue, not about his sport but about personal matters. —Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tearful

• cheerful
• fearful

Kids Definition

tearful

adjective

tear·​ful ˈti(ə)r-fəl 

: flowing with, accompanied by, or causing tears

tearfully

-fə-lē 

adverb