1
as in emotional
given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears
a tearful woman who can be counted on to cry at every wedding, anniversary, and funeral
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
causing unhappiness
the tearful end to what had once been a close friendship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tearful
Goranson and Gilbert follow with tearful exits that are deeper than a pizza-party ending.
—
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Despite her tearful breakdown, Erickson committed herself to going ahead with the challenge.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 22 May 2025
Though, a tearful Joaquin Phoenix earned big applause from the Lumiere theater crowd.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
This year, Frémaux scored big as Leonardo DiCaprio showed up to present a tearful Robert De Niro with his honorary Palme d’Or.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Despite her tearful breakdown, Erickson committed herself to going ahead with the challenge.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 22 May 2025
Though, a tearful Joaquin Phoenix earned big applause from the Lumiere theater crowd.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
This year, Frémaux scored big as Leonardo DiCaprio showed up to present a tearful Robert De Niro with his honorary Palme d’Or.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearful
Adjective
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Beyond Avoidance The Disengagement Continuum Work disengagement represents a psychological state characterized by emotional, cognitive and behavioral withdrawal from work roles.—
Jonathan H. Westover,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Set in early 2010s Taipei during the rise of social media, the series examines generational rifts, shifting identities and the emotional toll of public opinion in Taiwan’s rapidly evolving society.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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To some, this may sound bizarre, laughable, or even just plain sad.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
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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
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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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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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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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
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June hugs her, both of them teary over the reunion.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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For that reason, the show would have always been the curator’s natural point of entry even without this year’s mournful context.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
12 June 2025
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For May 1966’s expansive Pet Sounds, Wilson and lyricist Tony Asher created a song cycle documenting a passage from youthful innocence to mournful adulthood that the composer contrasted with delicately sophisticated yet openhearted orchestrations.—
Barry Walters,
Billboard,
11 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
Cite this Entry
“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearful. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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