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.
Alix Earle, a content creator with 7.2 million followers who rose to fame on the app in 2022, posted tearful videos mourning the platform. Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025 Top officials in the U.S. Department of Education had just wrapped up a tearful celebration of their time leading the agency. Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025 But the show's most memorable moments often showcased screaming matches and tearful tantrums between the guest of honor and their parents. Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025 Murder, turned cold case Rich — tearful and panicked — called Carol Linker, Ervin’s aunt. Kallie Cox, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025 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 30 Jan. 2025.

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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