tear-jerker
Definition
Noun: A tear-jerker is a story, film, song, or other work of art that is deliberately designed to evoke strong emotions, especially sadness or sentimental feelings, often causing the audience to cry.
Usage Examples
- (A film that intentionally makes viewers feel very sad.)
- (Novels that are emotionally moving and often cause tears.)
Advanced Usage
"to be a tear-jerker": to be an extremely sentimental or sad work.
- That old song is a tear-jerker; it always reminds me of my grandmother. (The song is very emotionally affecting.)
"a certified tear-jerker": a work that is widely recognized as being emotionally powerful.
- The novel is a certified tear-jerker, guaranteed to make you sob. (It is universally acknowledged as a very sad story.)
Variants and Related Words
Tear-jerking (adj): causing tears or strong sentimental feelings.
- The tear-jerking scene of the dog's death made everyone cry. (The scene is very sad and emotional.)
Tearjerker (n): alternative spelling of tear-jerker (less common).
- That film is a classic tearjerker from the 1950s. (A very sentimental movie.)
Synonyms
- Weepie (n): informal term for a sad or sentimental film or story.
- The movie is a weepie about a couple separated by war. (A film that makes people cry.)
- Heartbreaker (n): something that causes great sadness or disappointment.
- The ending of the book is a heartbreaker. (It is very emotionally devastating.)
Related Idioms
- A sob story: a story or explanation that is intended to make people feel sympathy or sadness.
- He told us a sob story about losing his job to get money. (A sad, often exaggerated, account designed to elicit pity.)
- Tug at the heartstrings: to evoke strong feelings of sympathy or sadness.
- The film's ending really tugs at your heartstrings. (It strongly affects your emotions.)