tearful

adjective

tear·​ful ˈtir-fəl 

1

: flowing with or accompanied by tears

tearful entreaties

2

: causing tears : teary

a tearful eulogy

tearfully

ˈtir-fə-lē 

adverb

tearfulness noun

Synonyms

• lachrymose
• teary
• weepy

Examples of tearful in a Sentence

He looked up at me with his tearful eyes and asked for help.

the tearful parting of two lovers

Recent Examples on the Web

Unfortunately, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had to bid a tearful farewell to the club in 2021 when President Joan Laporta failed to deliver on an election promise and renew his contract. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. —Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024

Get a glimpse of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's tearful Wicked auditions Want more movie news? —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 25 Nov. 2024

In October, some parents called for a crackdown on cellphone use in schools, sharing tearful testimony. —Kiersten Hacker, Baltimore Sun, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tearful

adjective

tear·​ful ˈti(ə)r-fəl 

: flowing with, accompanied by, or causing tears

tearfully

-fə-lē 

adverb