teary

adjective

ˈtir-ē How to pronounce teary (audio)
Definition of tearynext
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

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
  1. sad
  2. tearful
  3. depressing
  4. emotional
  5. pathetic
  6. weepy
  7. weeping
  8. lachrymose
Adjective
  • Now, Star is reporting that Blake Lively is trying not to be bitter about not being invited, but the snub has left her very sad.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 July 2026
  • No living sister or Mother to administer relief in that hour the most sad in the history of humanity.
    — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Cristiano Ronaldo was tearful after the last game of his sixth and final World Cup, Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 on Monday decided by Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 7 July 2026
  • With both extended families gathered at Athen’s Piraeus harbour, we where given a tearful goodbye with hearftfelt prayers and cheerful optimisum to begin our American journey.
    — Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of tearful
Adjective
  • In addition to which, the Moon is lined up with stern Saturn, which can be depressing.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 7 July 2026
  • Laughter and jokes are banned, and writing is presented as arduous and faintly depressing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • On Thursday, when Samueli Foundation officials called to notify grant winners – in this case, 22 nonprofits that will receive Build OC money – the conversations sometimes turned emotional.
    — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
  • How does that messy, emotional person do something so clinical?
    — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 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
Adjective
  • Also admirable are other craft elements, notably the camera movement in two interior rotundas to capture the characters spiraling; the lighting of somber dough making scenes; and the use of songs of faith towards solemn worldbuilding, like when the Sisters cut the hair of lachrymose inductees.
    — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Several days after this lachrymose dinner, a carnival-level event delighted Angelenos of either political persuasion.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Definition of lachrymose

Browse Nearby Words

tears (out)
teary
teas
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Cite this Entry

“Teary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teary. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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