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
Brooke Hogan has crafted a tearful tribute to her father Hulk Hogan, who died July 24, 2025 at the age of 71.
—
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Season 48 winner Kyle Fraser, 31, critically hurt his Achilles' tendon in the first immunity challenge, resulting in doctors pulling him from the game while his tearful tribe looked on.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
During a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Figueroa’s family members grew tearful while the state laid out details of the case.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The Brothers to the Rescue hanger at the Opa-locka Airport was packed with loved ones, families and tearful members of the Cuban exile community.
—Hank Tester, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Season 48 winner Kyle Fraser, 31, critically hurt his Achilles' tendon in the first immunity challenge, resulting in doctors pulling him from the game while his tearful tribe looked on.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
During a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Figueroa’s family members grew tearful while the state laid out details of the case.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The Brothers to the Rescue hanger at the Opa-locka Airport was packed with loved ones, families and tearful members of the Cuban exile community.
—Hank Tester, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearful
Adjective
-
Through no fault of Newton’s, Faith functions less as a second protagonist than a prop to give Grace more emotional investment in the proceedings by saddling her with guilt over their estrangement or opportunities to nobly sacrifice herself.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The eight include physical, but also spiritual, social, environmental, occupational, financial, emotional and intellectual.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
So is this really worth being sad about?—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Perhaps the saddest was the case of a Garden Grove gas station owner who was convicted of misdemeanors for illegally giving customers preferential treatment.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
18 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
-
This provides an initially pretty good, if incredibly depressing, joke.—
Chase Hutchinson,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Four of his early films Wiseman described as some of the most depressing films ever made.—
David Pogue,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages.—
Michael Granberry,
Dallas News,
17 Jan. 2020
Adjective
-
Astin sinks into his pathetic character with full commitment, but the running gag about Ron getting more upset about the possibility of being banned from the fast-food restaurant than anything else is hammered so relentlessly that the character just seems mentally challenged.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
McAdams got teary before Barbra Streisand took the stage to sing for Robert Redford.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Over the years, humpback whale songs have been recorded for human listening, with many describing the songs as having a haunting, mournful quality.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Humpback whales, which can weigh more than 55,000 pounds, are the ocean's most renowned singers, capable of complex vocalizations that can sound ethereal or even mournful.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearful. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
