reduce someone to tears
Make someone cry
To reduce someone to tears is to cause them to cry, usually through harsh criticism, cruelty, or overwhelming pressure: The coach's relentless drilling reduced half the team to tears.
The phrase implies the person was brought low—their composure broken down until crying was all that remained.
- cryingEmotional tear release
- sobbingConvulsive crying aloud
- ugly cryingUncontrolled, unflattering sobbing
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- weepingShedding tears audibly
tragedy · grief · sniffling · heartbreak · choking up · emotion · red eyes · criticism · reprimand · harsh words · verbal abuse · victories · empathy · reunions · regret · anguish · bawling · affect
emotional impact
reduce someone to tearslift someone's spirits
Improve emotional state
cheer up · make someone's day · delight · warm someone's heart · elate
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