tearful

adjective

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

Synonyms of tearful

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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.
As father to both a toddler and an infant, the din of tearful wailing — theirs, not mine (usually) — is the soundtrack to approximately half of all car journeys. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 Sparks promises surprises from the tour, but don’t expect a tearful tribute for Finch like the one that took place at one of their warm-up shows in San Diego. — Courtney Devores, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026 Fourteen years after authorities found Faith Hedgepeth dead, the 19-year-old’s final hours have been unfolding in a North Carolina courtroom, where tearful testimony and questions about missing evidence marked the opening days of a murder trial. — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Sixteen sets of eyes stared up at her from the rug as children strained to get a look at the tearful raccoon. — Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 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

Rhymes for tearful

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Browse Nearby Words

tear fault
tearful
tear gas
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Cite this Entry

“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tearful. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tearful

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