Lacrimose
adjective /ˈlæk.rɪ.məʊs/ — Tearful; inclined to weep
Definition
Given to weeping, or tending to cause tears — characterised by sustained, visible emotion. Also used slightly wryly of literature or performances designed to produce tears.
Beyond the definition
The state in which grief becomes visible. Lacrimose carries a slight formality — not just tearful but conspicuously, persistently so.
Origin & history
From Latin 'lacrimosus' (tearful) — from 'lacrima' (tear). Related to 'lachrymose', an alternate spelling with the same meaning.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The lacrimose farewell went on far longer than anyone had planned.
He was not a lacrimose person — the appearance of tears was therefore significant.
The film was deliberately lacrimose — every device deployed in service of making you weep.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Lacrimose” when the meaning fits your context: Given to weeping, or tending to cause tears — characterised by sustained, visible emotion. Also used slightly wryly of literature or performances designed to produce tears.
Synonyms
Antonyms
stoic, dry-eyed, unmoved
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Weight of Somber Reflective Sorrow
An adult sits in a quiet, low-lit room, looking at an empty chair with a posture indicating profound and heavy personal sadness.
Lacrimose describes a tendency to weep or be characterized by visible emotion. The image depicts a figure experiencing deep, mournful reflection, visualizing the physical and emotional burden that results in or accompanies sustained grief, showing the inward, heavy state of someone profoundly affected by an absence or loss.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Lacrimose" mean?
Lacrimose is adjective meaning: Tearful; inclined to weep. Given to weeping, or tending to cause tears — characterised by sustained, visible emotion. Also used slightly wryly of literature or performances designed to produce tears.
Where does the word "Lacrimose" come from?
From Latin 'lacrimosus' (tearful) — from 'lacrima' (tear). Related to 'lachrymose', an alternate spelling with the same meaning.