Tearful: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when someone is close to crying or has tears in their eyes.

• She gave a tearful goodbye to her friends.
• He had a tearful look on his face.

Use for a general feeling of unhappiness or depression.

• He felt sad after hearing the bad news.
• The movie had a sad ending.

Use in formal contexts to convey deep sadness or grief.

• The sorrowful expression on her face was hard to ignore.
• He wrote a sorrowful poem about loss and regret.

Use informally to describe someone who is prone to crying easily.

• She gets weepy every time she watches that movie.
• Feeling a bit weepy today?

This word is often used to describe someone who is on the verge of crying or already crying. It suggests visible tears and strong emotions.

• She gave a tearful goodbye at the airport
• His tearful eyes told the story of his heartbreak

This word is broader and can refer to any strong feelings, whether they are happy, sad, angry, or otherwise. It is often used in situations where there are significant feelings involved.

• The movie was so emotional that I cried multiple times
• He gave an emotional speech at his retirement party

This word is typically used to describe situations or events that cause deep sadness and grief. It often implies a sense of despair and is usually negative.

• The news of the accident was absolutely heartbreaking
• Watching the video of the orphaned animals was a heartbreaking experience

This is a general term used to describe a feeling of sorrow or unhappiness. It is appropriate for a wide range of situations, from mild disappointment to deep grief.

• I felt sad after hearing about the layoffs at work
• She looked sad when she talked about her childhood