tear-stained
Americanadjective
-
marked or wet with tears.
a tear-stained letter.
-
showing traces of tears or signs of having wept.
tear-stained cheeks.
Etymology
Origin of tear-stained
First recorded in 1585–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It's notable that, when men do discuss those bonds, it's almost always too late: Diddy's I'll Be Missing You is a tear-stained tribute to the rapper Notorious B.I.G.;
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2023
But after long, tight hugs and tear-stained cheeks, Chiles left, as her father advised, with her head held high.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2023
“How can we exercise our ministry in this land, along the banks of a river bathed in so much innocent blood, among the tear-stained faces of the people entrusted to us?”
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 4, 2023
The scientists’ tear-stained cheeks lit up with reflected light, and the crowd erupted.
From Science Magazine ● Sep. 27, 2022
Lydia hugged him tighter, pressing her tear-stained cheek to his, but said nothing for several moments.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.