tearful

adjective

ˈtir-fəl How to pronounce tearful (audio)
Definition of tearfulnext
1
as in emotional
given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears a tearful woman who can be counted on to cry at every wedding, anniversary, and funeral

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
causing unhappiness the tearful end to what had once been a close friendship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of tearful Then, outside the Long Beach courtroom, Gonzalez and Bustillos’ mother shared a tearful hug. — Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 The royal addressed her relationship with Epstein in a tearful interview. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 Related The two sat down for the premiere episode of The Vic Mensa Show and hashed things out after years of avoiding their personal grievances with each other, which led to a tearful and heartfelt conversation between old friends. — Angel Diaz, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026 Witness after witness testified for Josh, including a tearful Chantelle Crider. — Peter Henderson, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearful
  1. emotional
  2. sad
  3. weeping
  4. depressing
  5. crying
  6. pathetic
  7. teary
  8. mournful
Adjective
  • More likely she was hooked by the subliminal stirrings and emotional undertow of the music.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Everything is emotional close-up, emotional close-up, shot, counter shot.
    — Matthew Huff, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of emotional
Adjective
  • For all of the franchise’s misadventures, the Mets — led by ones who were there for that sad September in 2001 — get this right.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Let’s return, then, to La Quinta, and the saddest pizza party imaginable.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
    — David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
  • The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
    — Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Definition of weeping
Adjective
  • Voting rights advocates argue that requirements to present birth certificates or passports in order to register to vote is a disguised effort to make voting more difficult, depressing turnout and in effect disenfranchising voters.
    — Todd Spangler, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Climate change, depressing and overwhelming, falls into that category.
    — Peter Prengaman, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • Some in the pro-crying camp pointed to articles and headlines as proof.
    — Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of crying
Adjective
  • Among the performers, Smith rules the roost as the no-nonsense Angela, and Jones acquits himself tolerably on comic relief duties as the pathetic Mike.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Villarreal Villarreal’s performance in this competition last season was, frankly, pathetic.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of pathetic
Adjective
  • Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP Cullen would attend conventions around the country to meet with fans from multiple generations, often getting teary.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Cullen would attend conventions around the country to meet with fans from multiple generations, often getting teary.
    — Mark Kennedy, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of teary
Adjective
  • Part of it was the circumstances of his death and the mournful public procession through Brooklyn.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Whitney Houston’s powerhouse version stands alone, but Dolly’s quieter, mournful ode to her collaboration with Porter Wagoner is the artful, formative sketch to a colossal mural.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mournful

Browse Nearby Words

teardrops
tearful
tearing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearful. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All