What does cryingly mean?
“Cryingly” is an English adverb meaning “in a way that moves one to tears,” especially when something is extremely funny, beautiful, sincere, or pathetically inadequate. Its force often lies in exaggeration: a performance may be “cryingly funny,” while an apology can seem “cryingly sincere,” and a poorly made object may be “cryingly bad.” In these uses, the word does not usually mean that the speaker is literally weeping; rather, it describes something as so emotionally charged or painfully flawed that it prompts a figurative cry. The expression has a humorous, subjective quality and can sound affectionate or teasing as well as critical. It is more expressive than “very” and more specific than “emotionally,” making it useful for informal commentary, criticism, reviews, and conversational description. Though it may be dismissed as informal or sentimental, it is broadly understood in contemporary British and American English.
adverbIn a way that is so moving, funny, sincere, or painfully inadequate that it provokes tears or a figurative cry.
- In a way that is so moving, funny, sincere, or painfully inadequate as to provoke tears or a figurative cry.
"The film's final scene was cryingly moving without becoming sentimental."
"The reunion was a cryingly funny reminder of how much the two siblings had changed."
"The department's explanation was a cryingly inadequate response to the problem."
“Cryingly” lets laughter and tears compete in the same sentence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does cryingly come from?
Cryingly is a modern English formation based on the present participle crying with the adverb-forming suffix -ly. The base verb cry descends from Old English crīgan, meaning “to weep or cry out,” and belongs to a wider family of Germanic and Indo-European words associated with calling out, lamenting, or weeping. Older relatives include Irish crí, Swedish gråta, and the archaic English derivative crier.
How cryingly is actually used
Informal, expressive, and often hyperbolic. It is common in British and American commentary, criticism, reviews, and conversation, but is less suitable for formal writing.
Easily confused with cryingly
Crying is a verb or gerund meaning to shed tears or call out, whereas cryingly is an adverb describing something as so affecting or inadequate that it prompts a figurative cry.