TEARFUL Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

tearful

adjective

ˈtir-fəl

Definition of tearful

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 By the end of the speech, a tearful Tom does, if not forgive, at least exonerate his son. — Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026 The emotional toll was evident as Springer shared a tearful goodbye with teammates Daulton Varsho and Kevin Gausman before their departures. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Garner is a master at the tearful longing gaze over the ocean. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026 Among the actors in the latter group was Moon Hi Ree, who delivered a tearful scene based on her own story. — Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tearful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearful

Adjective

Rather than just a reproductive issue, endometriosis is a whole-body condition, affecting everything from emotional regulation to hormone production and gut health.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
The song, famously written by Parton as an emotional farewell to her mentor Porter Wagoner and his show, topped the country chart in 1974.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of emotional

Adjective

That might also explain the movie’s attempts to supercharge its few action sequences, as if the filmmakers realized belatedly that a sad book without much incident wasn’t exactly prime summer studio release fodder.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Obviously, a really sad story and hard to listen to at times.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 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

Rojas, who spoke through reddened, teary eyes after the game, knows the family well.

— Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
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.

— Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026

Definition of teary

Adjective

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
These pauses also give the documentary an air of mournful respect, making its pace more deliberate than the standard talking heads-doc that might be mistaken as a stylistic counterpart.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of mournful

Browse Nearby Words

teardrops

tearful

tearing

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Style

“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearful. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tearful

adjective

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