watery-eyed
Definition
Adjective: - Having eyes that are filled with tears or are producing tears; appearing as if about to cry or having just cried.
Usage
The adjective "watery-eyed" describes a person whose eyes are visibly wet with tears. It is typically used to indicate a state of being on the verge of crying, or having just cried, due to strong emotion (like sadness, joy, or sympathy) or a physical irritant (like smoke or wind).
Examples
- She became watery-eyed while listening to the moving speech.
- The cold wind made the skiers watery-eyed.
- He was watery-eyed with gratitude when they surprised him with the award.
Advanced Usage
- Emotional Context: Often used to describe a restrained emotional response, where someone is touched or saddened but not fully weeping.
- The farewell letter left him feeling sentimental and watery-eyed.
- Descriptive Nuance: Can imply a temporary state rather than intense sobbing.
- The movie's happy ending left the audience watery-eyed but smiling.
Variants and Related Words
- Tearful (adj): More directly implies crying or being inclined to cry.
- Misty-eyed (adj): Similar to "watery-eyed," often with a connotation of nostalgia or tender emotion.
- Watery (adj): Of or like water; diluted. When describing eyes, it is a component of the compound "watery-eyed."
Synonyms
- Tearful
- Misty-eyed
- Weepy (informal)
- Lachrymose (formal)
Antonyms
- Dry-eyed
- Composed
- Stoic
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To have a lump in one's throat: To feel strong emotion that makes it difficult to speak, often accompanied by becoming watery-eyed.
- The tribute was so beautiful it gave everyone a lump in their throat.
- To be moved to tears: To be so emotionally affected that one cries or becomes tearful.
- The generosity of the community moved her to tears.
Adjective
-
with eyes full of tears
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