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.
The girls who made it onto the school buses arrived at Ingram Elementary, where they were reunited in tearful embraces. Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 13 July 2025 Click on the video below to see a tearful stepdad surprised by his stepson's big reveal! Ronnie Li, USA Today, 10 July 2025 The poignant reunion moment, in which Conner disclosed that he'd been raped in his childhood, has generated a lot of conversation, both during his tearful explanation at the season 2 reunion and online since as his castmates have shown support and admiration for his bravery. Angela Andaloro, People.com, 3 July 2025 Advertisement Chancellor Rachel Reeves could be seen behind Starmer, seemingly becoming tearful at points during the session. Callum Sutherland, Time, 2 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Tearful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tearful. Accessed 19 Jul. 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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