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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
causing unhappiness
the tearful end to what had once been a close friendship
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tearful
There were the arrests of tearful and screaming immigrants, captured on video and played on endless loops across social media.
—
ABC News, 28 May 2026
Firefighter's family ready to contest allegations Dove's family members were in the courtroom on Tuesday, happy and tearful that his will come home while awaiting trial.
—Ashley Paul, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Richard Childress as well as dozens of other people in the NASCAR community stood behind the family in a moment of remarkable power, as Samantha hugged Brexton and grew tearful.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2026
Highlights from the season included Amy Poehler and Tina Fey reuniting to play Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem, respectively; Jack Black being inducted into the five-timers club; and Bowen Yang saying goodbye on his final show with a tearful, meta sketch about leaving a job.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tearful
ABC News, 28 May 2026
Firefighter's family ready to contest allegations Dove's family members were in the courtroom on Tuesday, happy and tearful that his will come home while awaiting trial.
—Ashley Paul, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Richard Childress as well as dozens of other people in the NASCAR community stood behind the family in a moment of remarkable power, as Samantha hugged Brexton and grew tearful.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2026
Highlights from the season included Amy Poehler and Tina Fey reuniting to play Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem, respectively; Jack Black being inducted into the five-timers club; and Bowen Yang saying goodbye on his final show with a tearful, meta sketch about leaving a job.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearful
Adjective
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Several jurors appeared emotional, covering their mouths.—
Dawn White,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
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Though there are still many unknowns regarding the full effect of ayahuasca on the human experience, if my own is any indication, the mental and emotional gates this plant can open seem promising.—
Michaela Trimble,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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The other six ascended to the highest office in the land as a result of the dysfunction that has made Peru a punch line in political-science circles, a sad story of ungovernability played on a loop.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
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There’s a one-note quality to the film’s comedy that grows steadily, even deliberately, more abrasive over two hours, but the sad, brash, gradually shrinking bigness of the personalities at its center holds your attention.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
Almost a year out to sea is very depressing.—
Steve Walsh,
NPR,
23 May 2026
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Some sendoffs are mundane; others are downright depressing.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Adjective
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But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages.—
Michael Granberry,
Dallas News,
17 Jan. 2020
Adjective
-
Sports make people a little pathetic.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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Williams didn't portray Peter Banning as pathetic.—
Cynthia Pelayo,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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From launching a secret OnlyFans account and becoming the teary bride at a gory wedding-gone-wrong to her eerie ending in that big, lonely, ugly mansion, Sweeney's character centered a large portion of the show's finale.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
1 June 2026
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Edwards allegedly wrote a poem for a female staffer and read it aloud at her going-away party attended by the whole office, growing teary and choked up while reading beside a slideshow depicting photos of himself and the staffer, according to the report.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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On the soundtrack, mournful wailing music presents her as a tragic character.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearful. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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