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 no tearful goodbyes as the soldiers each marked the end of this extraordinary journey.
—
Carol Guzy, NPR, 22 Feb. 2026
After nabbing a bronze medal in the twenty-kilometre biathlon, Lægreid took an interview that quickly became a tearful monologue, not about his sport but about personal matters.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
For all its drama — the tearful testimony, the corporate conspiracy theories, the government’s fully victorious verdict — Brian Watson’s civil fraud trial ended quietly last month.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
But producers kept the cameras rolling throughout Shandi’s distress, capturing her sobbing frame and even filming a tearful phone call with her boyfriend back home.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Carol Guzy, NPR, 22 Feb. 2026
After nabbing a bronze medal in the twenty-kilometre biathlon, Lægreid took an interview that quickly became a tearful monologue, not about his sport but about personal matters.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
For all its drama — the tearful testimony, the corporate conspiracy theories, the government’s fully victorious verdict — Brian Watson’s civil fraud trial ended quietly last month.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
But producers kept the cameras rolling throughout Shandi’s distress, capturing her sobbing frame and even filming a tearful phone call with her boyfriend back home.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearful
Adjective
-
Adolescence — roughly ages 10 to 19, according to the World Health Organization — is the critical window for developing confidence, a stable sense of identity and emotional regulation.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Google’s latest lawsuit pushes the company to do more, such as warning users about the risks of having long emotional conversations with its chatbot.—
The Los Angeles Times,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In a weirdly serendipitous bit of cinema news, Billie Eilish—queen of melancholy pop—is turning her sad eyes to Sylvia Plath.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Resident reactions Some residents are sad to see the cemetery go.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 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
-
That was the most depressing moment of my life.—
Adam Duxter,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And every note is a depressing true story about the teacher and principal.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages.—
Michael Granberry,
Dallas News,
17 Jan. 2020
Adjective
-
Of course, the notes turn out to mostly be about her as well as the principal (played by Gosling), detailing their most pathetic behaviors.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The pathetic leaks didn’t work.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s a lot of teary bro hugs as players pack their bags and walk out the dressing room door forever.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Kyle says a teary good-bye to everyone, gets on a boat, and is let out in the deep blue water, heading back to civilization, heading over each rocking swell, not into the future, but somehow into the past.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
His villains were flamboyant, but Bruce was mournful, reluctant — no onscreen superhero has more palpably wrestled with not wanting to be a superhero.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
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Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearful. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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