tearful
Crying or close
Tearful describes someone who is crying or close to tears: She gave a tearful goodbye at the airport.
It can also describe things marked by weeping: a tearful reunion, a tearful apology.
The word suggests visible emotion without implying the intensity of sobbing—more restrained, often mixed with other feelings like relief or gratitude.
Convulsive crying aloud
- cryingEmotional tear release
- bawlingCrying noisily and hard
- whimperingCrying weakly, softly
- wailingProlonged mournful crying
sniffling · blubbering · sniveling · red-eyed · weepy · choking up · misty-eyed
Longing for the past
- wistfulSadly longing for something
- bittersweetWistful yet warm
- poignantEvoking keen emotion
- touchingEvoking gentle emotion
tender · heartfelt · maudlin · yearning · longing · reminiscent · sappy · lovesick
State of emotional pain
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- despairTotal absence of hope
- woeGreat sorrow or distress
misery · heartache · dejection · despondent · forlorn · crestfallen · doleful · woebegone
Period following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- lossBeing without something
- funeralService honoring the dead
- eulogyTribute for the dead
condolences · lamentation · inconsolable · heartbroken · devastated · bereft · keening · grieving
To let go
- therapeuticPromoting healing or wellness
- healingRestoration of health
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
purging · liberating · relieving · emotional release · good cry · letting go · breakthrough · processing
sobbing
Convulsive crying aloud
- cryingEmotional tear release
- bawlingCrying noisily and hard
- whimperingCrying weakly, softly
wailing · sniffling · blubbering · sniveling · red-eyed · weepy · choking up · misty-eyed
nostalgic
Longing for the past
- wistfulSadly longing for something
- bittersweetWistful yet warm
- poignantEvoking keen emotion
touching · tender · heartfelt · maudlin · yearning · longing · reminiscent · sappy · lovesick · soulful
sadness
State of emotional pain
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- despairTotal absence of hope
woe · misery · heartache · dejection · despondent · forlorn · crestfallen · doleful · woebegone · heavyhearted
mourning
Period following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- lossBeing without something
- funeralService honoring the dead
eulogy · condolences · lamentation · inconsolable · heartbroken · devastated · bereft · keening · grieving · memorial
release
To let go
- therapeuticPromoting healing or wellness
- healingRestoration of health
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
unburdening · purging · liberating · relieving · emotional release · good cry · letting go · breakthrough · processing · venting
overwhelmed
Defeated by sheer volume
wedding · graduation · birth · proud · touched · elated · relieved · overjoyed
- mood symptomssadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, anhedonia, low mood
- emotionaldramatic, hysterical, weepy, melodramatic, histrionic
- facial expressionssmiling, smile, grin, grinning, frown
- melancholysadness, sorrow, gloom, woe, dejection
- sadnesssad, unhappy, grief, sorrowful, heartbroken
- dejectiondejected, despondent, discouraged, disheartened, dispirited
- tearful reunionWeepy meeting after absence
- tearful goodbyeEmotional final parting