TEARY Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

teary

adjective

ˈtir-ē

Definition of teary

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

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

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 teary Lawmakers in the House and Senate plugged away with some final formal votes, in between lengthy and teary tributes to the members who are term-limited or otherwise not returning to the Capitol. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 14 May 2026 MacInnes made a teary appearance on the stand yesterday, where Wilson’s barrister quizzed her intensely about her claims of a bad relationship with the Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect actress. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026 There, Sam unleashes reams upon reams of monologues about their past at a teary Mary, who fills in a few gaps. — Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 18 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 See All Example Sentences for teary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for teary

Adjective

Bao and Dani also get some votes, but Yangyang and Octavius get none, which is sad.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2026
But that selflessness comes to feel like the point of this lingering, resonantly sad film — above all else, an elegy for lives unseen and unknown.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 July 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

At the age of 39, the Argentina soccer star’s future is in doubt — and it was written all over his tearful face.

— Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
His instinctive reaction, tearful after losing another final, was to throw in the towel, to announce his career with Argentina was over at the age of 29, to focus on his club career, which by comparison brought him so much joy and so little anxiety.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of tearful

Adjective

The song arrives alongside a cinematic, albeit somewhat depressing, video directed by Mikai Karl and starring distinctive French character actor Denis Lavant (Beau Travail, Mauvais Sang).

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 15 July 2026
In addition to which, the Moon is lined up with stern Saturn, which can be depressing.

— Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 7 July 2026

Definition of depressing

Adjective

That was an emotional accomplishment because Harvick was thrust into that seat after the great Dale Earnhart was killed in a crash in the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001.

— Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
OpenAI has said its ChatGPT program is trained to recognize signs of emotional distress, de-escalate situations, and guide users to real-life support.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

Definition of emotional

Adjective

Never in my lifetime has pathetic nostalgia for the white man’s republic been closer to the center of power.

— Brian DeLay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.

— Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Definition of pathetic

Adjective

Sure, one of your favorite actors is going to turn out to be a Bad Man™️, and yeah, there’s a lot of weepy talk about dead kids.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 June 2026
The Mouse House also seems dead set on retconning all of its best villains, with recent movies giving weepy sob stories to Cruella de Vil, Maleficent and Scar to explain away their cruelty.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 May 2026

Definition of weepy

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

Browse Nearby Words

tears (out)

teary

teas

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Style

“Teary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teary. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of teary

adjective

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