tearless
/'tiəlis/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Free from tears; not crying or shedding tears: Describes a state where no tears are present or being produced, often implying a lack of visible emotional expression through crying.
- Dry-eyed; showing no sign of weeping: Characterizes a person, their eyes, or their demeanor as being without tears, which can sometimes suggest emotional control, numbness, or a stoic reaction.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- She stood tearless at the funeral, her grief too deep for outward expression.
- The child stared at the broken toy with tearless eyes, more shocked than sad.
- His tearless reaction to the bad news surprised everyone.
Advanced Usage
- Used to describe emotional states: Often contrasts with expected emotional displays, highlighting internalization, shock, or resilience.
- Her tearless acceptance of the verdict was more powerful than any outburst.
- Used in literary or descriptive contexts: Frequently employed to paint a vivid picture of a character's composure or emotional state.
- He delivered the eulogy in a steady, tearless voice.
Variants and Related Words
- Tearlessly (adverb): In a manner without tears.
- She listened tearlessly to the heartbreaking story.
- Dry-eyed (adjective): A near-synonym meaning not crying.
- He remained dry-eyed throughout the sad film.
Synonyms
- Dry-eyed: Not crying.
- Unweeping: Not weeping or shedding tears.
- Stoic: Enduring pain or hardship without showing feelings or complaining (can imply being tearless as part of this demeanor).
Antonyms
- Tearful: Full of tears; inclined to cry.
- Weepy: Tending to weep easily.
- Misty-eyed: Having eyes filled with tears of emotion.
Related Phrases and Idioms
(While "tearless" itself is not typically part of common idioms, it relates to expressions about crying.) - Not shed a tear: To not cry at all. - He didn't shed a tear when he said goodbye. - Keep a stiff upper lip: To remain resolute and unemotional in the face of adversity (can result in a tearless appearance). - She kept a stiff upper lip during the crisis.
Adjective
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free from tears
