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
Flores, upon learning of the reports, grew visibly teary, but remained in the game because the deal was pending the standard medical review.
—
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
For her part, Park got teary eyed thanking Goreski for his heart, humor and spirit and for helping lift her up in the wake of a critical sepsis illness.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
Albritton became teary when recounting touring the high school building in Parkland where students were shot and killed.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
Bieber himself made reference to the pressures on young performers in a teary interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in 2020.
—Shirley Halperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for teary
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
For her part, Park got teary eyed thanking Goreski for his heart, humor and spirit and for helping lift her up in the wake of a critical sepsis illness.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
Albritton became teary when recounting touring the high school building in Parkland where students were shot and killed.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
Bieber himself made reference to the pressures on young performers in a teary interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in 2020.
—Shirley Halperin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for teary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for teary
Adjective
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Banks: There’s a reason why the theater [symbol] is a happy face/sad face.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
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To some, this may sound bizarre, laughable, or even just plain sad.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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The clip of the tearful moment of acceptance between father and son has 2.8 million likes and more than 23 million views.—
Sara Belcher,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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June 2's episode depicted his family's tearful bedside farewells while John lay in a full-body cast that obscured even his face.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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All that matters is whether Dance Mom, a character designed in a lab to be a depressing punchline, pulls in just enough of the always-online demo to boost their numbers among younger viewers.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
30 May 2025
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Music was a way to showcase something that wasn’t depressing.—
Ramin Setoodeh,
Variety,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Doyle, dressed in a black suit, looked emotional as he was brought into the courtroom from his cell, according to a PA Media reporter following proceedings.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
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The former mayor was emotional when speaking about Kerik during his show on Thursday.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Anyone who tells you different is a liar (and pathetic, and alone in life).—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
30 May 2025
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The politicized fantasy and horror films by Ryan Coogler and Jordan Peele are merely pathetic.—
Armond White,
National Review,
23 May 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 13 Jun. 2025.
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