38 Metaphors for Crying

Metaphors for crying beautifully capture the complexity of emotions associated with tears. They offer vivid imagery that resonates with our experiences, helping us articulate feelings of sadness, relief, or joy. By using these metaphors, we can convey the depth of our emotions in a relatable and impactful way.

In this article, we’ll explore 38 creative metaphors for crying. From tears being likened to rain to the act of crying as a release, these expressions will enhance your ability to describe emotional moments with clarity and flair.

38 Metaphors for Crying

1. Tears like rain

Meaning: Tears flowing freely, similar to rain falling from the sky.
In a Sentence: After hearing the news, her tears fell like rain, soaking her cheeks.
Other Ways to Say: Tears like a downpour, crying like a storm.

2.Metaphors for Crying a river

Meaning: Crying excessively, as if producing a literal river of tears.
In a Sentence: He was so upset about the breakup that he felt like he could cry a river.
Other Ways to Say: Flooding with tears, weeping uncontrollably.

3. A waterfall of emotions

Meaning: An overwhelming surge of feelings that leads to crying.
In a Sentence: After the movie ended, she felt a waterfall of emotions wash over her.
Other Ways to Say: Cascade of feelings, flood of tears.

4. Tears like a broken dam

Meaning: Tears that burst forth uncontrollably, similar to water breaking through a dam.
In a Sentence: Once she started crying, it was like a broken dam; she couldn’t stop.
Other Ways to Say: Overflowing with tears, unleashed emotions.

5. Crying in the dark

Meaning: Crying alone or in secret, often feeling isolated in one’s sorrow.
In a Sentence: He found himself crying in the dark, feeling as if no one could understand his pain.
Other Ways to Say: Weeping in solitude, tears in silence.

6. Tears like pearls

Meaning: Beautifully precious tears that reflect deep emotions.
In a Sentence: Her tears fell like pearls, each one a symbol of her heartache.
Other Ways to Say: Gem-like tears, tears of sorrow.

7. A flood of tears

Meaning: An overwhelming amount of tears shed at once.
In a Sentence: When she heard the news, it felt like a flood of tears had been released.
Other Ways to Say: Wave of tears, torrent of emotions.

8. Crying like a baby

Meaning: Crying loudly and without restraint, reminiscent of a newborn.
In a Sentence: After the argument, he was crying like a baby, unable to control his emotions.
Other Ways to Say: Wailing like an infant, sobbing uncontrollably.

9. Tears of a clown

Meaning: Expressing sadness or pain behind a façade of happiness.
In a Sentence: He wore a smile, but his tears of a clown revealed his true feelings.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden sorrow, laughter masking pain.

10. A storm of tears

Meaning: An intense emotional outburst leading to crying.
In a Sentence: After the news, she was caught in a storm of tears, unable to think clearly.
Other Ways to Say: Tempest of emotions, whirlwind of crying.

11. Metaphors for Crying an ocean

Meaning: Crying so much it feels as if one is creating an ocean of tears.
In a Sentence: She felt like she was crying an ocean after saying goodbye to her friend.
Other Ways to Say: Sea of tears, tidal wave of sorrow.

12. Tears like raindrops

Meaning: Tears falling gently, reminiscent of soft rain.
In a Sentence: His tears fell like raindrops, quietly marking his cheeks.
Other Ways to Say: Soft tears, gentle weeping.

13. Crying out a heartache

Meaning: Expressing deep emotional pain through tears.
In a Sentence: She was crying out a heartache that felt too heavy to bear.
Other Ways to Say: Weeping from sorrow, expressing grief.

14. A river of sorrow

Meaning: A profound and endless feeling of sadness represented by tears.
In a Sentence: His heart felt like a river of sorrow after the loss of his pet.
Other Ways to Say: Stream of sadness, flow of grief.

15. Tears like ice

Meaning: Cold, hard tears that signify deep emotional pain.
In a Sentence: When he spoke of his loss, his tears felt like ice on his cheeks.
Other Ways to Say: Chilling tears, frozen sorrow.

16. Crying like a storm

Meaning: An intense emotional outburst comparable to a violent storm.
In a Sentence: She was crying like a storm, her emotions raging uncontrollably.
Other Ways to Say: Tempestuous weeping, furious tears.

17. Tears like a waterfall

Meaning: Tears flowing abundantly and continuously like a waterfall.
In a Sentence: After the breakup, she had tears like a waterfall, cascading down her face.
Other Ways to Say: Continuous tears, unending flow.

18. Crying from the heart

Meaning: Tears that come from deep emotional pain or joy.
In a Sentence: He was crying from the heart, expressing genuine grief for his loss.
Other Ways to Say: Sincere weeping, heartfelt tears.

19. A sea of tears

Meaning: An overwhelming expression of sadness, suggesting an immense volume of tears.
In a Sentence: After the news, she felt as if she was drowning in a sea of tears.
Other Ways to Say: Ocean of sorrow, vastness of grief.

20. Tears like thunder

Meaning: Powerful and loud crying, akin to the sound of thunder.
In a Sentence: His crying was like thunder, echoing through the quiet room.
Other Ways to Say: Roaring tears, booming sorrow.

21. Crying like a fountain

Meaning: Tears flowing freely and abundantly, similar to water from a fountain.
In a Sentence: She was crying like a fountain, her emotions spilling over.
Other Ways to Say: Gushing tears, abundant weeping.

22. Metaphors for Crying tears of joy

Meaning: Crying that arises from happiness rather than sadness.
In a Sentence: When she received the award, she shed tears of joy.
Other Ways to Say: Happy tears, joyful weeping.

23. A tear-stained pillow

Meaning: A pillow that has absorbed tears, indicating sadness during the night.
In a Sentence: She woke up to find her pillow tear-stained from crying herself to sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Sorrowful pillow, evidence of tears.

24. Crying like it’s the end of the world

Meaning: Crying intensely as if facing an insurmountable loss.
In a Sentence: When she lost her job, she was crying like it was the end of the world.
Other Ways to Say: Desperate weeping, apocalyptic tears.

25. A desert of tears

Meaning: A metaphorical representation of overwhelming sadness and emptiness.
In a Sentence: After the breakup, he felt like he was wandering in a desert of tears.
Other Ways to Say: Arid sorrow, barren emotional landscape.

26. Crying like a nightingale

Meaning: Crying melodiously, akin to the beautiful song of a nightingale.
In a Sentence: Her tears fell like a nightingale’s song, sweet yet sorrowful.
Other Ways to Say: Melodic sobbing, beautiful weeping.

27. Tears like stars

Meaning: Tears that shine or glimmer, reminiscent of stars in the night sky.
In a Sentence: Her tears sparkled like stars against her flushed cheeks.
Other Ways to Say: Shining tears, twinkling sorrow.

28. Crying like there’s no tomorrow

Meaning: Crying intensely as if there is no future or hope left.
In a Sentence: After the news, he was crying like there was no tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Despairing weeping, hopeless tears.

29. Tears like melting snow

Meaning: Tears that flow gently and quietly, reminiscent of snow melting away.
In a Sentence: Her tears fell like melting snow, soft and delicate.
Other Ways to Say: Gentle weeping, soft tears.

30. A symphony of tears

Meaning: A harmonious expression of emotions through crying.
In a Sentence: At the film’s climax, there was a symphony of tears in the audience.
Other Ways to Say: Harmony of emotions, orchestration of sorrow.

31. Crying into the night

Meaning: Crying that occurs during the night, often in solitude.
In a Sentence: She spent hours crying into the night, lost in her thoughts.
Other Ways to Say: Weeping in darkness, sobbing at night.

32. Tears like a gentle breeze

Meaning: Tears that flow softly and quietly, like a light breeze.
In a Sentence: His tears fell like a gentle breeze, barely making a sound.
Other Ways to Say: Softly flowing tears, quiet weeping.

33. Crying like a siren

Meaning: Crying loudly and piercingly, similar to a siren’s wail.
In a Sentence: She was crying like a siren, her grief echoing through the house.
Other Ways to Say: Wailing tears, piercing sobs.

34. A canvas of tears

Meaning: A metaphorical representation of emotions painted through tears.
In a Sentence: His face was a canvas of tears, each mark telling a story of pain.
Other Ways to Say: Portrait of sorrow, emotional landscape.

35. Tears like shadows

Meaning: Tears that linger and follow closely, akin to shadows.
In a Sentence: Her tears were like shadows, always present but often unnoticed.
Other Ways to Say: Lingering sorrow, accompanying grief.

36. Crying like a lullaby

Meaning: Crying that is soothing and calming, similar to a lullaby.
In a Sentence: His tears flowed like a lullaby, comforting in their release.
Other Ways to Say: Soothing weeping, calming tears.

37. Metaphors for Crying Tears like a riverbank

Meaning: Tears that are held back but can overflow at any moment.
In a Sentence: She felt her tears building up like a riverbank ready to burst.
Other Ways to Say: Holding back tears, on the verge of crying.

38. Crying like a phoenix rising

Meaning: Crying that signifies rebirth and transformation through pain.
In a Sentence: After her struggles, she was crying like a phoenix rising, ready to embrace new beginnings.
Other Ways to Say: Rebirth through tears, transformative weeping.

Quiz on Metaphors for Crying

1. What does the metaphor “crying a river” imply?

a) Crying a little
b) Crying excessively
c) Crying silently
d) Crying happily
Answer: b) Crying excessively

2. “Tears like a broken dam” suggests what?

a) Tears are controlled
b) Tears flow uncontrollably
c) Tears are beautiful
d) Tears are hidden
Answer: b) Tears flow uncontrollably

3. The phrase “a storm of tears” indicates:

a) Calm weeping
b) Intense crying
c) Quiet sadness
d) Joyful tears
Answer: b) Intense crying

4. What does “crying like a baby” mean?

a) Crying softly
b) Crying loudly and without restraint
c) Crying joyfully
d) Crying quietly
Answer: b) Crying loudly and without restraint

5. “Tears of a clown” refers to:

a) Happy tears
b) Hidden sorrow behind a façade
c) Tears of joy
d) Tears of laughter
Answer: b) Hidden sorrow behind a façade

Conclusion

Metaphors for crying provide rich, vivid imagery to express the depth of our emotions. They capture everything from sorrow to joy, allowing us to share our feelings in a relatable way. By understanding and using these metaphors, we can communicate the complexity of crying, making it easier for ourselves and others to connect through shared experiences. Embrace these expressions to articulate your emotional landscapes more effectively.