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
Relevance
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
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 tearful
Her big blue eyes are searching, concerned, tremulous and tearful.
—
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2025
Related article Golf great Bernhard Langer expects his final Masters to be tearful.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
The episode closes on them enjoying a long, tearful, joyful embrace.
—EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Post-match, a tearful Tomkins expressed his gratitude to the club and the supporters.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2025
Related article Golf great Bernhard Langer expects his final Masters to be tearful.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
The episode closes on them enjoying a long, tearful, joyful embrace.
—EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Post-match, a tearful Tomkins expressed his gratitude to the club and the supporters.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tearful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearful
Adjective
-
His father, who has also served significant time in prison, explained the emotional weight of watching his son endure a similar experience.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Controversy over wolf management can become more emotional and political than scientific.—
Olivia Ferrari,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Though the courts have not invariably ruled against Trump, the Administration’s record so far is, to use one of the President’s favorite words, sad.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The sad story of Alex Verdugo was one of the most puzzling dramas of the MLB offseason.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
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
Adjective
-
This Sunday’s finale marks the end of a bizarre, depressing, and sometimes extremely funny show about a family like none other.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2025
-
That’s been really fascinating and depressing and dispiriting to see.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Read more The pathetic, slow-motion downfall of Barack Obama Houseguests and fish begin to smell after three days, as the saying goes.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Writing the most unbridled, impolite, unreasonable, pathetic rant that gives voice to unseen, unheard parts of you opens a relief valve that transfers emotional pain onto the page.—
Jessica DuLong,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
And then probably a Sunday that ends among familiar shadows splayed across fairways, a long walk up Augusta’s 18th, a hat brim pushed up off his forehead, a final putt, a final roar, a teary embrace with his family, and then a 44 Long in green.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The band played somber hymns marking Good Friday, a mournful day during Holy Week.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
-
At the vigil, the atmosphere appeared to be both mournful and celebratory of Scooter’s life.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
There’s nothing like hearing a unified gasp at a horror movie or seeing others wiping their eyes after a weepy drama.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearful. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share