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

After a tearful goodbye with Fern, Kat finally made her way to the present day. — Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

The posts, which have garnered hundreds of thousands of views, have drawn tearful responses from many online. — Jeremy Mikula, NBC news, 21 June 2026

An unexpected speaker during Thursday’s demonstration for Mary Alice Love, the woman shot and killed by Mundelein police last month, was the niece of Mundelein Mayor Robin Meier, who gave a tearful rebuke of her aunt for missing the event. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026

But the most heartbreaking scenes are of Bonnie, who is distraught and tearful after receiving hurtful messages online. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 June 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