tearjerker

noun

tear·​jerk·​er ˈtir-ˌjər-kər 

: a story, song, play, film, or broadcast that moves or is intended to move its audience to tears

tear-jerking

ˈtir-ˌjər-kiŋ 

adjective

Examples of tearjerker in a Sentence

I'm not in the mood to see a tearjerker. Let's watch something funny instead.

Recent Examples on the Web

This one is an emotional tearjerker as Meredith and Addison have a heartfelt moment of honesty in an elevator, after which Addison accepts Meredith's invitation to meet her and Derek's children. —Christina Dugan Ramirez, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025

The commercial is stunning, and quite the tearjerker. —David Phelan, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

The coming-of-age tearjerker follows their relationship as Landon learns that Jamie is living with leukemia and nearing the end of her life. —Jen Juneau, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025

That's an excellent selection for those looking for a side of comedy among their romance, but those seeking tearjerkers are also in luck because Hulu will add Nicholas Sparks hits The Last Song and The Notebook on the same day. —Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tearjerker

• caseworker
• coworker
• farmworker
• woodworker
• worker