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.
Teyana Taylor looked tearful as Anderson accepted the award for his 10th film alongside fellow producer Sara Murphy (and in memory of the late Adam Somner). Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026 Redzepi announced his resignation on Instagram with a tearful video soon after. ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026 UConn accomplished the fairytale ending when Bueckers walked off the floor and into a tearful embrace with Auriemma minutes before the team secured its 12th national championship with an 82-59 win over South Carolina. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026 The tearful star became the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar for best supporting actress for her performance in Emilia Perez. Francesca Pellegrini, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tearful. Accessed 22 Mar. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on tearful

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