lachrymose

1 9.9

Showing sadness or making people want to cry

adjective
/ˈlækrɪˌmoʊs/

Literature

: lagrimoso

And nobody seemed too lachrymose about the College Board's pledge to make the test's vocabulary more relevant: Four-fifths of students said the words that appeared on the SAT would be useful to them later in life, compared with just over half of test takers who said the same thing a year ago.

Examples

Are you to be lachrymose?!

Sacrifice (2011)
No need to be so lachrymose.

Blog text (29)
Baron was the author of another dictum, that a "lachrymose conception of Jewish history has served as an eminent means of social control from the days of the ancient rabbis, and its repudiation now might help further weaken the authority of Jewish communal leadership.

Blog text (18)
The film was so lachrymose that many audience members left the theater in tears.
After hearing the sad news, her lachrymose expression made it clear how much she cared.
During the memorial service, several lachrymose speeches moved the attendees to tears.

Synonyms

sad

vslachrymose

∞ 1.0

Feeling unhappy or upset because of something

is more focused on tear-provoking, mournful expression than simple unhappiness

in tears

vslachrymose

64 2.0

Crying because you feel very sad or touched

covers showing sadness that tends to cause tears without insisting on active crying

tearful

vslachrymose

26 1.8

Showing you are about to cry because of a strong feeling

is more general and literary, covering sadness that evokes tears not only presence

teary

vslachrymose

21 2.0

Having eyes that look ready to cry

describes a broader mournful quality that may or may not show physical tears

weepy

vslachrymose

20 3.7

Feeling like you want to cry easily

describes an overall mournful quality that evokes tears rather than frequent crying

mournful

vslachrymose

18 3.9

Feeling deep sadness because of a loss

leans more toward tearful, literary expression of sorrow rather than plain sadness

sorrowful

vslachrymose

14 3.6

Feeling very sad because of loss or disappointment

emphasizes tearful or mournful expression rather than general ongoing sorrow

teary-eyed

vslachrymose

9 3.2

With eyes full of tears because of strong feeling or something in the eye

focuses on an overall sad, tear-provoking tone rather than just eye appearance

melancholic

vslachrymose

5 7.2

Feeling deep, quiet sadness

is more directly about causing tears and overt mournful expression

lugubrious

vslachrymose

Literature

3 9.5

Very sad in a way that seems too much and not natural

is more sincere and literary, showing real tearful sorrow rather than affectation

doleful

vslachrymose

3 8.2

Feeling or showing deep sadness

is slightly more poetic and focused on tearful expression rather than plain sadness

elegiac

vslachrymose

Literature

2 9.1

Showing sad feelings about something lost or in the past

leans more toward immediate tearful sadness than reflective mourning for the past

dolorous

vslachrymose

Literature

1 9.9

Feeling or showing deep sadness because of a loss

is focused more on tearful, often softer mourning than intense distress

lacrimatory

vslachrymose

Specialized

9.9

That causes the eyes to fill with tears

is broader and more literary, focusing on tearful sadness rather than technical cause

lachrymatory

vslachrymose

Specialized

9.9

Causes your eyes to fill with tears

uses a more emotional, literary sense of showing sorrow rather than scientific cause

weeping

vslachrymose

3.2

Showing sadness by crying

is more literary and may describe a sorrowful mood that prompts tears

dolourous

vslachrymose

Archaic

9.9

Full of deep sadness

has a literary, tearful tone rather than simply stating grief

sorrowing

vslachrymose

6.9

Feeling very sad because of a loss

highlights a tearful, evocative quality more than ongoing grieving state

Antonyms

cheerful

111 1.0

Happy in a way you show with a smile or friendly actions

joyful

70 1.0

Feeling or showing great happiness

How Tearful

inconsolable

10 7.2

lachrymose

Literature

1 9.9

tearful

26 1.8

mournful

18 3.9

Surface Forms

lachrymose positive

Morphology

lachrymose = lachrym + ose

The combining form 'lachrym-' (meaning 'tear') is not a recognizable standalone English base for typical B1 learners, so they are unlikely to infer 'tearful' from the components.

Etymology

Lachrymose comes from the Latin lacrima, which means 'tear', so it describes a person or thing that is full of tears or makes you cry. Think of lacrima = 'tear' to remember that a lachrymose story or face brings tears.