teary

Close to crying

Teary describes eyes filling with tears or a person on the verge of crying: She got teary during the speech.

It suggests emotion welling up rather than full-blown weeping—the precursor to actual tears.

Teary-eyed works the same way: a teary-eyed goodbye.

emotional

sorrowful

Filled with grief

heartbrokenOverwhelmed with grief
grief-strickenOverwhelmed by profound loss
melancholicInclined toward reflective sorrow

sentimental · nostalgic · overwhelmed · touched · moved · wistful · forlorn · distraught · anguished · poignant

crying

sobbing

Convulsive crying aloud

weepingShedding tears audibly
blubberingCrying noisily and uncontrollably
snivelingTearful, pitiful complaining

whimpering · crying · lachrymose · streaming · welling · brimming · watery · glistening · moist · red-eyed

irritated

watery

Containing excess liquid

stingingCausing sharp pain
burningCombustion in progress
itchyProvoking scratching urges

irritated · redness · swollen · puffy · blurred · allergic · reactive · inflamed · scratchy · sore

mourning

bereavement

State following loss

griefIntense sorrow from loss
lossBeing without something
funeralService honoring the dead

eulogy · condolences · wake · memorial · sorrow · remembrance · widow · orphan · graveside · keening

Categories

cryingcry, crying, sob, sobbing, sobs
eye adjectivesblue, brown, green, gray, hazel

Opposites

physical state of eyes

Not shedding tears

tearless · dry · clear-eyed

emotional state

Pleasantly bright in mood

happy · merry · jovial · lighthearted · mirthful

Phrases

tear upShred or become emotional
in tearsActively crying
tear apartForcefully separate into pieces
wear and tearGradual damage from use
tear downDestroy a structure
burst into tearsCry suddenly, uncontrollably

Family

tear, tears, tearful, teared, tearfully, tearfulness, untearable, teariness

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G