tear-jerker

tear·jerk·er

T t

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [teer-jur-ker]
- /tɪər ˈʤɜrkər /
- /teə(r) ˈʤɜːkə /

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [teer-jur-ker]
- /tɪər ˈʤɜrkər /

Definitions of tear-jerker word

noun tear-jerker a pathetic story, play, movie, or the like; an excessively sentimental tale. 1
countable noun tear-jerker If you refer to a play, film, or book as a tear-jerker, you are indicating that it is very sad or sentimental. 0
noun tear-jerker an excessively sentimental film, play, book, etc 0
noun tear-jerker a play, film, etc. that is sad in a very maudlin way 0

See all 4 definitions of tear-jerker

Information block about the term

Origin of tear-jerker

First appearance:

before 1930

One of the 10% newest English words

First recorded in 1930-35; tear1 + jerk1 + -er1

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Tear-jerker

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Tear-jerker

tear-jerker popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 42% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

According to our data about 64% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

Synonyms for tear-jerker

noun tear-jerker

broadway — a thoroughfare in New York City, famous for its theatres: the centre of the commercial theatre in the US
drama — a composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue or pantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character, especially one intended to be acted on the stage; a play.
dramaturgy — the craft or the techniques of dramatic composition.
footlight — Usually, footlights. Theater. the lights at the front of a stage that are nearly on a level with the feet of the performers.
footlights — Usually, footlights. Theater. the lights at the front of a stage that are nearly on a level with the feet of the performers.

All 12 Synonyms of tear-jerker