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

Example Sentences

He looked up at me with his tearful eyes and asked for help. the tearful parting of two lovers
Recent Examples on the Web The Connecticut trial featured tearful testimony from parents and siblings of the victims, who told about how they were threatened and harassed for years by people who believed the lies told on Jones’ show. Dave Collins, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2022 The trial featured tearful testimony from parents and siblings of the victims, who told about how they were threatened and harassed for years by people who believed the lies told on Jones' show. CBS News, 12 Oct. 2022 The trial featured tearful testimony from parents and siblings of the victims, who told about how they were threatened and harassed for years by people who believed the lies told on Jones’ show. Dave Collins, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Oct. 2022 In a tearful post-game interview after her last match at this month's US Open, Williams said there's no her, in tennis, without older sister Venus Williams; that also extends to business, Williams told Ogunnaike. Anika Reed, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2022 Kemsley recalls in a tearful confessional interview. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2022 In a tearful interview with CBS News, Ukrainian politician Halyna Yanchenko made a plea for international help. Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 24 Feb. 2022 The verdict touched off a tearful celebration among Barrack and his supporters, who took group photos in the courtroom. Tom Hays, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2022 The verdict touched off a tearful celebration in the courtroom among Barrack and his supporters, who took group photos. Tom Hays, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tearful.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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 7 Dec. 2022.

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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