tearful

adjective

tear·​ful ˈtir-fəl How to pronounce tearful (audio)
1
: flowing with or accompanied by tears
tearful entreaties
2
: causing tears : teary
a tearful eulogy
tearfully adverb
tearfulness noun

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
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.
Two years later, Monica Rivera, the only eyewitness to the crime, recanted in a tearful phone call with Duran’s family. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 The Streep interaction comes days after Adele and singer Celine Dion shared a tearful encounter during a recent concert. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024 Adele became tearful as the pair embraced for several seconds. Nicholas Rice, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024 Acuff played through the grief, delivering a tearful tribute to his dad and demonstrating music’s role in processing sadness and depression, even as his popularity soars. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tearful 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tearful was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near tearful

Cite this Entry

“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tearful. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tearful

adjective
tear·​ful ˈti(ə)r-fəl How to pronounce tearful (audio)
: flowing with, accompanied by, or causing tears
tearfully adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tearful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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