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
But thankfully, the holiday ends with tearful reunions and a picnic basket full of pie.
—
Abrigail Williams, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
As the Mass ended, some were tearful.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 26 Nov. 2025
However, after a reconciliation and tearful goodbye with Glinda, Elphaba forms a plan to use the rumor that getting wet will kill her to her advantage and—unbeknownst to Glinda—ultimately fakes her own death by allowing Dorothy to throw a bucket a water on her.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Husband's heartbreak A tearful Danny Hoang is now running the couple's nail salon by himself and taking care of their children.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Abrigail Williams, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
As the Mass ended, some were tearful.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 26 Nov. 2025
However, after a reconciliation and tearful goodbye with Glinda, Elphaba forms a plan to use the rumor that getting wet will kill her to her advantage and—unbeknownst to Glinda—ultimately fakes her own death by allowing Dorothy to throw a bucket a water on her.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Husband's heartbreak A tearful Danny Hoang is now running the couple's nail salon by himself and taking care of their children.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearful
Adjective
-
That increase has come with a financial strain and emotional stress for families across the country and in North Carolina.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Her relationship with Kerr hits several bumps, giving Blunt the chance to showcase her emotional range in tense scenes.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And when the detective handed his business card over and explained the situation, the guy was very distraught and very sad.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Thoughts about sad events stopped causing days-long spirals, and tasks that once felt insurmountable were no longer a second thought.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2026
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
Adjective
-
In the story, there is a lot of comedy that naturally arises from tragic moments, from dark, depressing moments.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
10 Jan. 2026
-
This is par for the course, because conversations are confusing, even depressing.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages.—
Michael Granberry,
Dallas News,
17 Jan. 2020
Adjective
-
If two out of 10 germinate, that’s pathetic.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Even more pathetic was when Maher, who initially had claimed to be a captain, discovered that Yasser’s imaginary rank outranked his own.—
Elizabeth Tsurkov,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Paul Thomas Anderson was teary eyed about De Luca after wining Best Director for One Battle After Another.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The teary eyes were contagious.—
Essence,
Essence,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This internal struggle is portrayed with raw honesty, focusing on the darker, mournful corners of humanity that inspired the record’s lyrics.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Other tracks channel the mournful energy of the most political ’70s dub.—
Andrew Ryce,
Pitchfork,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearful. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
