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
The posts, which have garnered hundreds of thousands of views, have drawn tearful responses from many online.
—
Jeremy Mikula,
NBC news,
21 June 2026
An unexpected speaker during Thursday’s demonstration for Mary Alice Love, the woman shot and killed by Mundelein police last month, was the niece of Mundelein Mayor Robin Meier, who gave a tearful rebuke of her aunt for missing the event.
—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
But the most heartbreaking scenes are of Bonnie, who is distraught and tearful after receiving hurtful messages online.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Watch Swift's tearful speech in the video above.
—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Jeremy Mikula,
NBC news,
21 June 2026
An unexpected speaker during Thursday’s demonstration for Mary Alice Love, the woman shot and killed by Mundelein police last month, was the niece of Mundelein Mayor Robin Meier, who gave a tearful rebuke of her aunt for missing the event.
—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
But the most heartbreaking scenes are of Bonnie, who is distraught and tearful after receiving hurtful messages online.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Watch Swift's tearful speech in the video above.
—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearful
Adjective
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Contreras, meanwhile, entered Tuesday's game after an emotional stretch.
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Humanitarian workers say the emotional toll is becoming increasingly visible inside temporary shelters.
Adjective
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Day broke, bathing everything in light, and so great was the vitality of the early-morning sun that even the unhappy city seemed to smile a wan, sad smile.
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But SpringHill really took off in 2020, two seasons into James’ Lakers term, when The SpringHill Company went public (and the Lakers won the sad COVID-bubble NBA Championship).
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.
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
Adjective
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What a depressing, disturbing waste, no matter the final verdict.
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After watching and enjoying the film, a somewhat depressing thought leaped into my mind.
Adjective
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Lizzo, 38, got the chance to meet Hill, 51, at the ceremony and spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the moment through teary eyes in a backstage interview.
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Kevin Biron-Bomis, 54, became teary after about 90 minutes of testimony, describing a night of holiday cheer that ended with the death of his brother Brandon.
Adjective
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Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
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After these first three majors — and after a pathetic showing this week at Shinnecock — there's no reason to bet against it.
Adjective
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Sure, one of your favorite actors is going to turn out to be a Bad Man™️, and yeah, there’s a lot of weepy talk about dead kids.
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The Mouse House also seems dead set on retconning all of its best villains, with recent movies giving weepy sob stories to Cruella de Vil, Maleficent and Scar to explain away their cruelty.
Adjective
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The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
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The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
Cite this Entry
“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearful. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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