TEARY Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

teary

adjective

ˈtir-ē

Definition of teary

as in sad

causing unhappiness a teary ending to what had been up to that point a lighthearted movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in tearful

given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears he's one of those teary drunks who sees fit to bore the other bar patrons with his sad stories

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of teary Cullen would attend conventions around the country to meet with fans from multiple generations, often getting teary. — Mark Kennedy, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026 Lizzo, 38, got the chance to meet Hill, 51, at the ceremony and spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the moment through teary eyes in a backstage interview. — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 From launching a secret OnlyFans account and becoming the teary bride at a gory wedding-gone-wrong to her eerie ending in that big, lonely, ugly mansion, Sweeney's character centered a large portion of the show's finale. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 1 June 2026 Lawmakers in the House and Senate plugged away with some final formal votes, in between lengthy and teary tributes to the members who are term-limited or otherwise not returning to the Capitol. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for teary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for teary

Adjective

State Drive, an ugly black roadway, separates the Science Center and its new addition from the park’s Rose Garden, and serves as a sad connector to the rest of the park.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
As more details came out, the sad truth of Perry’s relapses and drug hustle emerged.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

And her vacant, tearful expression makes clear that the real woman has no say in what’s happening to her.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Oct. 2026
And when the gun went off for the women's varsity race, Bierer walked off the line toward her mother, Sheona, who embraced her tearful daughter.

— Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of tearful

Adjective

Maybe the most vivid reminder was what happened after a similarly depressing defeat in 2021 in the last game in which Mahomes played and the Chiefs managed only a field goal.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
In another depressing week for the UK’s public broadcaster, there were more cuts, talk of even more cuts and programs scrapped, as the BBC’s desperate bid to make the books work continues under former Google EMEA chief Matt Brittin.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of depressing

Adjective

The history between these men is more noxious than your garden-variety case of paternal neglect — there’s been emotional and physical abuse.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
That’s not because Crystal soft-pedals the emotional horror of returning to your home to find charred remains after watching, helpless, as flames took the locus of all your best memories.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of emotional

Adjective

Gaines assured weepy parents that those feelings are counterbalanced by watching your children thrive.

— Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
Except that’s precisely what awards shows are terrible at — those hammy yuk-yuk sketches, or weepy maudlin moments, that struggle to celebrate the industry by interlacing the show with a theatrical insert.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026

Definition of weepy

Adjective

And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.

— David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.

— Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021

Definition of weeping

Browse Nearby Words

tears (out)

teary

teas

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Style

“Teary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/teary. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of teary

adjective

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