Definition of "tearjerker" [tearjerker]

• Slang A grossly sentimental story, drama, or performance. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "That's pretty good for what some critics considered a mere "potboiler" or "tearjerker" -- but had it been just that, it wouldn't have had the impact that it had."
• ""tearjerker" genre - the thought of responding to a call to do another tearjerker story was very tough."
• "It's either a tearjerker or a comedy, but not both."