1
: flowing with or accompanied by tears
tearful entreaties
2
: causing tears : teary
a tearful eulogy
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
And as commissioner of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, the former Dodgers assistant general manager has been fielding lots of tearful feedback from fans overcome by the fact that softball players finally, finally have a big league of their own.
—
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
After spending 11 months gathering evidence, interviewing two dozen tearful girls and their parents, then being stonewalled by state prosecutors and attacked in the media, they were then ostracized by federal prosecutors, who took over the case in early 2007.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Principal Jon Chlebowski said Wednesday was a joyous day but also tearful, as everyone will miss each other.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tearful
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Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
After spending 11 months gathering evidence, interviewing two dozen tearful girls and their parents, then being stonewalled by state prosecutors and attacked in the media, they were then ostracized by federal prosecutors, who took over the case in early 2007.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Principal Jon Chlebowski said Wednesday was a joyous day but also tearful, as everyone will miss each other.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Cite this Entry
“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tearful. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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