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Definition of tearful

tearful

/ˈtɪr.fəl/
tear · ful
Adverb:tearfully
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tearful Lexical Profile

tearful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Crying or inclined to cry; having eyes filled with tears.

Example

"The graduating seniors exchanged tearful hugs after the commencement ceremony ended."

2

Accompanied by, causing, or characterized by tears and strong emotion.

Example

"The family shared a tearful reunion at the airport after years of living apart."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for tearful

• Nearby Words

tearaway
teardown
teardrop
tearful
tearfully
tearfulness
teargas

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the noun 'tear' (from Old English 'tear', meaning a drop of fluid from the eye) combined with the adjective-forming suffix '-ful'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tearful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tearful
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