tearjerker

[ teer-jur-ker ]

/ ˈtɪərˌdʒɜr kər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: tearjerker / tearjerking on Thesaurus.com

noun

a story, play, movie, or the like that is sentimental or sad enough to evoke pangs of emotion to the point of tears: This new version of a classic tearjerker is touted as the must-see film of the holiday season, but it lacks the genuine warmth of the original.

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of tearjerker

First recorded in 1930–35; tear¹ + jerk¹ + -er¹

OTHER WORDS FROM tearjerker

tear·jerk·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use tearjerker in a sentence

Sam watches her fall apart, tear herself apart and is desperate.
Grief: The Real Monster in The Babadook|Tim Teeman|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And then he went on a tear in early 2013, creating one provocation after another, seemingly every day for more than two months.
Kim Jong Un’s Kid Gloves Are Now Off|Gordon G. Chang|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Kate was driven away, she appeared to wipe a tear from her eye.
Tearful Kate Weeps After Meeting Mother Whose Baby Died|Tom Sykes|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many of those gathering in the run-up to the grand jury decision wore hockey and tear gas masks to conceal their identity.
Justice Was Served in Ferguson—This Isn’t Jim Crow America|Ron Christie|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In other news, black and white pin-up shots are now officially less valuable than life-size Tiger Beat tear outs.
Justin Bieber Isn’t Even 21, Yet Makes More Money Than Meryl Streep|Amy Zimmerman|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Louis turned at the exclamation, and looked on the faithful servant; but no tear was in his eye, no sound on his lip.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
By what word is the relation between “pendulum” and “a smile and tear” described?
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
In the tear-stained story of humanity there has never been aught to surpass the thrilling record of Cawnpore.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
In a short time you will be able, in the language of Dr. Johnson, “to tear out the heart of any book.”
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
The horizon, however, was lowering and hazy, and the sun had not force enough to tear the murky veil asunder.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer

British Dictionary definitions for tearjerker

tear-jerker

/ (ˈtɪəˌdʒɜːkə) /

noun

informal an excessively sentimental film, play, book, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012