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 lively segment ended with Gless, who got teary at points during her answer.
—
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
The original video, which has now been viewed more than 18 million times, was a teary confession from Nilsen, who was best known at the time for her beauty content.
—Sara Belcher, People.com, 10 June 2025
As always, the luncheon had its share of teary moments as the honorees relayed their experiences in parenting.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 June 2025
June hugs her, both of them teary over the reunion.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for teary
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
The original video, which has now been viewed more than 18 million times, was a teary confession from Nilsen, who was best known at the time for her beauty content.
—Sara Belcher, People.com, 10 June 2025
As always, the luncheon had its share of teary moments as the honorees relayed their experiences in parenting.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 June 2025
June hugs her, both of them teary over the reunion.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for teary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teary
Adjective
-
Too much alcohol and your dreamy dessert turns into a sad, semi-frozen slush.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Her eyes are big and sad, and her index finger touches the tip of the nightstick hanging from the policeman’s belt.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
But no matter what happens next, Sunday's win and that tearful hug will be hard to top.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
-
In a game played on a weekday morning UK time, and watched in schools and offices around the country, England’s tearful exit was the best possible promotion for the track.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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That’s a depressing setup, but the film is a lot gentler.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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And on that depressing thought, that's how Squid Game ended.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Stacy sought to foster emotional and physical self-reliance among its campers, according to Texas Monthly, which cited an old brochure from her time.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
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Cortisol rises during times of emotional or physical stress.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Nevertheless, the squad needs to shift strategies and Sonny is here to take them from pathetic to aggressive.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
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Jarvis’ performance is transformative, making Mark both pathetic and feverishly alive, his corrosive remorse seemingly genuine.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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Comment At the end of the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Richard Strauss’s Salome, the soprano Elza van den Heever stayed onstage to accept the uproarious ovations with a weepy smile and a grateful tap on her heart.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2025
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Novelist Kazuo Ishiguro’s weepy cloning love-triangle story turned out to be apt source material for his friend Garland to adapt.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2025
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
Adjective
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Several days after this lachrymose dinner, a carnival-level event delighted Angelenos of either political persuasion.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2024
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Puccini later inserted a different, more lachrymose text, one that forecasts her suicide.—
Alex Ross,
The New Yorker,
23 Oct. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Teary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teary. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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