tearjerker

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tearjerker

Where it comes from

From tear + jerker, so termed because it suggests one is likely to cry during its performance.

noun tearjerkers · tear-jerker · tear jerker

informal An emotionally charged film, novel, song, opera, television episode, etc., usually with one or more sad passages or ending. Renamed in honor of the tube tearjerker, the work wondrously went on to become the most recognized theme in all of soapdom.
Similar: cryfest, sobfest

Translations

Every language

noun emotionally charged dramatic work

Español	lacrimoso, lacrimógeno, dramón
日本語	お涙頂戴 onamida chōdai
中文	催淚作品 /催泪作品 cuīlèizuòpǐn
Français	tire-larmes
Deutsch	Schnulze
Italiano	strappalacrime, lacrimoso

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MLA

"tearjerker." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/tearjerker. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

tearjerker. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/tearjerker

Chicago

"tearjerker." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/tearjerker.

BibTeX

@misc{tearjerker_2026,
  title = {tearjerker},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/tearjerker},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}