tearful

adjective

tear·​ful ˈtir-fəl How to pronounce tearful (audio)
Synonyms of tearfulnext
1
: flowing with or accompanied by tears
tearful entreaties
2
: causing tears : teary
a tearful eulogy
tearfully adverb
tearfulness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some epic scenes were invented wholesale, like a tearful reunion between Louis and Lestat in their old New Orleans home as a hurricane rages around them. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 June 2026 Survivors describe squeezing through treacherous tunnels and seizing a brief drop in water levels to walk out, as tearful scenes greeted their emergence and uncertainty lingers over the missing pair. Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026 There were the arrests of tearful and screaming immigrants, captured on video and played on endless loops across social media. ABC News, 28 May 2026 Firefighter's family ready to contest allegations Dove's family members were in the courtroom on Tuesday, happy and tearful that his will come home while awaiting trial. Ashley Paul, CBS News, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tearful

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tearful was circa 1586

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Cite this Entry

“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tearful. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

tearful

adjective
tear·​ful ˈti(ə)r-fəl How to pronounce tearful (audio)
: flowing with, accompanied by, or causing tears
tearfully adverb

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