tearier; teariest
Synonyms of tearynext
1
a
: wet or stained with tears : tearful
teary eyes
b
: consisting of tears or drops resembling tears
2
: causing tears : pathetic
a teary story

Examples of teary in a Sentence

There were many teary eyes among those in the audience. He made a teary farewell to the fans.
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.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, dust allergy symptoms include sneezing; runny or stuffy nose; itching; wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath; and red, itchy, or teary eyes. Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026 The pup can be seen glancing around his kennel with teary eyes, appearing scared and confused. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 McAdams got teary before Barbra Streisand took the stage to sing for Robert Redford. Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026 That’s a lot of teary bro hugs as players pack their bags and walk out the dressing room door forever. Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for teary

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of teary was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Teary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teary. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

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