tears of sadness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tears of sadness" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the emotional response of crying due to feelings of sorrow or grief. Example: "As she watched the heartbreaking scene unfold, tears of sadness streamed down her face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Tears of laughter and tears of sadness in equal measure.

The Guardian

Tears of sadness fomented into tears of frustration.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"As far as us moving forward, I'm kind of tired of tears of sadness," Bielema said.

The New York Times

"I'm kind of tired of tears of sadness," Wisconsin Coach Bret Bielema said.

The New York Times - Sports

There were a lot of tears of joy and tears of sadness.

The New York Times - Sports

"Four years ago, I cried tears of sadness; today I cry tears of joy," Guerrouj said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

And so it is that, as I write this, I shed a tear of sadness but also of hope — for all the Jewish witches and wizards who have passed through the Entrance Hall over the years, and for many more to come.

The New Yorker

It will have you in tears -- of sadness for the tragic loss of life, of joy for the beauty and humanity that can be found even in the worst situations, and of awe that someone can write like this.

Huffington Post

More tears--of sadness and also joy.

Huffington Post

"I wept tears of sweet sadness over my glorious youth going out with the tide," he recalled.

The New Yorker

I spent two hours shifting between tears of laughter, sadness and hope, but I left feeling full of love.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for emotional impact, consider combining the phrase "tears of sadness" with vivid imagery to amplify the feeling for the reader. For example, "Tears of sadness streamed down her face like rain on a windowpane."

Common error

Avoid using redundant phrases such as "crying tears of sadness"; the act of crying already implies the presence of tears. Instead, focus on the intensity or cause of the sadness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tears of sadness" functions primarily as a noun phrase, describing the physical manifestation of an emotional state. Ludwig's examples show it's commonly used to depict a feeling of sorrow or grief.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "tears of sadness" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to depict sorrow or grief. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and highlights its presence in diverse contexts, particularly within news and media. To enhance your writing, consider using vivid imagery to amplify the emotional impact, while being mindful of avoiding redundancy. By understanding the phrase's nuances, you can effectively convey emotional depth and evoke empathy in your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tears of sorrow

Replaces "sadness" with "sorrow", maintaining the core meaning of grief.

tears of grief

Substitutes "sadness" with "grief", emphasizing deep mourning.

shedding tears of unhappiness

Replaces "sadness" with "unhappiness", conveying a similar but slightly broader emotion.

weeping with sadness

Changes the structure to a verb phrase, focusing on the act of weeping.

crying in despair

Highlights the despair associated with the crying.

moved to tears by sorrow

Changes the phrase to describe being moved by sorrow, resulting in tears.

a river of tears

Uses a metaphor to describe copious crying due to sadness.

a flood of tears

Emphasizes the abundance of tears shed due to sadness.

overcome with grief

Focuses on being overwhelmed by grief, implying tears.

eyes filled with sorrow

Shifts the focus to the eyes as indicators of deep sorrow.

FAQs

How can I use "tears of sadness" in a sentence?

You can use "tears of sadness" to describe a character's emotional state, such as, "The movie evoked "tears of sadness" from the audience".

What are some alternatives to "tears of sadness"?

Alternatives include "tears of sorrow", "weeping with sadness", or describing the cause of the tears directly, such as "crying from grief".

Is it grammatically correct to say "tears of sadness"?

Yes, "tears of sadness" is grammatically correct. It's a common and accepted way to describe crying due to feelings of sadness.

What is the difference between "tears of sadness" and "tears of joy"?

"Tears of sadness" indicate sorrow or grief, while "tears of joy" indicate happiness or elation. They represent opposite emotional responses.