1
as in sad
causing unhappiness
a teary ending to what had been up to that point a lighthearted movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tearful
given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears
he's one of those teary drunks who sees fit to bore the other bar patrons with his sad stories
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of teary
The emotional weight of the experience was not lost on Cody, who became visibly teary during the ride.
—
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Still, nothing sparked quite as many headlines—or joyfully teary social media Reels—as the closing moments of episode five.
—Cameron Sperance, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2026
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, dust allergy symptoms include sneezing; runny or stuffy nose; itching; wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath; and red, itchy, or teary eyes.
—Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
The pup can be seen glancing around his kennel with teary eyes, appearing scared and confused.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for teary
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
Still, nothing sparked quite as many headlines—or joyfully teary social media Reels—as the closing moments of episode five.
—Cameron Sperance, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2026
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, dust allergy symptoms include sneezing; runny or stuffy nose; itching; wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath; and red, itchy, or teary eyes.
—Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
The pup can be seen glancing around his kennel with teary eyes, appearing scared and confused.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for teary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teary
Adjective
-
The failure of so many in the political world to speak up displays a sad and growing moral bankruptcy.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
-
Don’t be sad — this is not a farewell forever.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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The masked thugs deposit a tearful middle-aged woman in front of Bass, Newsom, and Harris.—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
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Best of all are turtle release dates, when staff doctors deem a turtle healthy enough to rewild—the community comes to the beach to see it off, joyful and even tearful as the turtle ambles into waves and disappears beneath them.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Even more depressing, this scenario essentially puts an end to the good-government experiment in nonpartisan redistricting reform.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
15 May 2026
-
Such widespread outsourcing of thought and memory is deeply depressing to many educators.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Stronger communities are built when mental-health services move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and recognize the emotional, social, cultural and practical realities people face every day.—
Maria Bledsoe,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
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Mercury enters Gemini in your 4th House of Home, bringing attention to family logistics, living space, and the emotional weather behind closed doors.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Just a pathetic, sad old man who hated the world and spent his days in solitude.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
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The man who has been on fire since the Knicks first tipped off against the Atlanta Hawks shot a ghastly — nay, a pathetic — 53 percent from the field.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages.—
Michael Granberry,
Dallas News,
17 Jan. 2020
Adjective
-
But the war ended, and the smog didn’t, and L.A. wiped its weepy red eyes and demanded some solutions, dammit.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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For years, the Oscars’ in memoriam segment has been scored with weepy music and sentimental ballads.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 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
Cite this Entry
“Teary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teary. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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