lachrymose
/ˈlækrɪmoʊs/
ADJECTIVE
1. Tearful and prone to crying
Characterized by tears, weeping, or an inclination to cry, especially as a result of sadness, grief, or emotional distress.
1.1. People and emotional expressions
Used to describe people who are visibly crying, shedding tears, sobbing, or displaying strong emotions through tearful expressions.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- cheerful
- happy
- beaming
- smiling
- lighthearted
Examples
- The lachrymose child cried throughout the farewell ceremony.
- She became lachrymose when remembering her childhood memories.
- His lachrymose expression revealed how deeply the news had affected him.
Related Words
- tears
- weeping
- sobbing
- wailing
- sniveling
- whimpering
- crying
- emotionality
ADJECTIVE
2. Deeply sorrowful and mournful
Expressing or characterized by profound sadness, sorrow, grief, or melancholy, often associated with loss, disappointment, or emotional suffering.
2.1. Personal grief and emotional suffering
Used to describe people experiencing intense sadness, heartbreak, or grief, particularly following a painful loss, separation, or personal tragedy.
Synonyms
- sorrowful
- mournful
- grieving
- heartbroken
- brokenhearted
- disconsolate
- despondent
- heavyhearted
- woeful
- doleful
- dolorous
- inconsolable
Antonyms
- cheerful
- blithe
- happy
- jovial
- merry
- lighthearted
- joyful
Examples
- The lachrymose widow struggled to cope with the loss of her husband.
- He remained lachrymose for weeks after the heartbreaking farewell.
- Her lachrymose demeanor reflected the sorrow she felt after losing her closest friend.
Related Words
- grief
- bereavement
- heartbreak
- anguish
- sorrow
- melancholy
- despair
- mourning
- lamentation
2.2. Sadness and melancholic moods
Used to characterize a person's mood, emotional disposition, or general state of mind when dominated by sadness, gloom, melancholy, or despondency.
Synonyms
- sad
- gloomy
- melancholy
- lugubrious
- morose
- miserable
- downcast
- downhearted
- dejected
- woebegone
- forlorn
- sorrowful
Antonyms
Examples
- He spent the rainy afternoon in a lachrymose mood, reflecting on past disappointments.
- The normally cheerful woman became unusually lachrymose after receiving the disappointing news.
- A lachrymose atmosphere settled over the household following the tragedy.
Related Words
- melancholia
- depression
- despondency
- gloom
- pessimism
- sadness
- loneliness
- disappointment
ADJECTIVE
3. Evoking tears and sadness
Producing or expressing such strong feelings of sadness, tenderness, or emotional sympathy that they cause people to become tearful or cry.
3.1. Music, literature, and artistic expression
Used to describe songs, stories, performances, or artistic works that convey profound sadness or evoke tears through emotionally moving themes and expressions.
Synonyms
- tear-jerking
- poignant
- moving
- affecting
- mournful
- plaintive
- dolorous
- sentimental
- heartbreaking
- touching
Antonyms
- cheerful
- jocose
- jovial
- mirthful
- lighthearted
- blithe
Examples
- The melancholy music created a lachrymose atmosphere in the room.
- The novel's ending was poignant and lachrymose, leaving readers emotionally stirred.
- Her voice, filled with sadness, rendered the song in a beautifully lachrymose manner.
Related Words
3.2. Funerals and expressions of mourning
Used to describe ceremonies, speeches, songs, or expressions associated with death and remembrance that convey grief and create a deeply sorrowful atmosphere.
Synonyms
- mournful
- funereal
- doleful
- plaintive
- lugubrious
- sorrowful
- dolorous
Antonyms
Examples
- The funeral procession moved slowly, accompanied by a lachrymose melody played on the violin.
- His farewell speech was unexpectedly lachrymose, moving many people to tears.
- The memorial service featured lachrymose music that reflected the family's profound grief.
Related Words
- funeral
- mourning
- bereavement
- requiem
- dirge
- elegy
- lamentation
- memorial