tearjerker

[ teer-jur-ker ]

noun

1. a story, play, movie, or the like that is sentimental or sad enough to evoke pangs of emotion to the point of tears:

   This new version of a classic tearjerker is touted as the must-see film of the holiday season, but it lacks the genuine warmth of the original.

Other Words From

• tear·jerk·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tearjerker¹

First recorded in 1930–35; tear ¹ + jerk ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

But viewers may be more inclined to weep at how this would-be tearjerker relies on its remarkable star to uplift an otherwise insufferable film.

From Salon

That plot description doesn’t exactly suggest a heartfelt tearjerker of a movie.

From Los Angeles Times

Haigh’s work does for me what the filmmaker says a torch song or a tearjerker does for him: “That is the thing that makes me feel less alone,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

The dying professor has our concern, though this is not a medical drama or conventional tearjerker by any means.

From Los Angeles Times

In the series, Mazin and Druckmann create a romantic backstory for the two characters, creating one of the series’ most talked about tearjerker episodes.

From Seattle Times