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[[caption-width-right:350:[[EverybodyCries Everyone weeps]], and no-one plays the WorldsSmallestViolin.]]

->''"Crying is cleansing. There's a reason for tears, happiness or sadness."''
-->-- '''Music/DionneWarwick'''

Some viewers are impassive when it comes to what they watch. They've seen it all. No fictional death, sacrifice, emotional display or confession can move them.

[[WellThisIsNotThatTrope Except these]].

Since most of these involve death scenes, shocking twists, or something just as major, expect '''many''' [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff unmarked spoilers.]] However, they can also be as simple as the right imagery, tone, and music coming together - for the sole purpose of working those tear-ducts.

This being one of the YMMV items, one person's Tear Jerker may be another's {{Narm}}, which is often a failed attempt to induce this. Comments such as [[ComplainingAboutPeopleNotLikingTheShow "If you didn't cry at _____, you have no soul"]] are '''not''' welcome here; since this is defined by emotional reaction, what causes someone to burst into tears may cause another to shrug or even laugh, and guilt-tripping people just because they don't experience the emotions you want them to is not cool, dude.

Many {{Downer Ending}}s and {{Bittersweet Ending}}s include tearjerking moments. Either way, make sure to bring the Kleenex. If you want to avoid them altogether, then you might want to consider heeding that SnicketWarningLabel. [[noreallife]]

Some tear-jerking moments, especially of deaths, can wind up being [[NightmareFuel horrifying or traumatizing]] as well. Compare HarsherInHindsight, which may be a Tear-Jerker in and of itself. Contrast SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments, which can induce tears for more positive reasons, although they can overlap. Also contrast TearDryer, which can counter a tear-jerker.

Tear Jerker is Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease and examples for real events reported in {{documentar|y}}ies or other non-fiction works aren't normally permitted. Examples for {{docudrama}}s and historical fiction are allowed, but must focus on things as they're presented within the work, not the real events they adapt.

Furthermore, keep in mind that meta examples aren't allowed in moments pages. Moments are for things that happen within a work. Things pertaining to the creators, the work's development or the work's critical and commercial reception, while you may think are tear-jerking and we might agree, are outside the scope of this audience reaction. Plus, citing such events as a Tear Jerker could in many cases be considered [[LoopholeAbuse an attempt to bypass the Real Life example ban]].
----
[[folder:Tropes that often result in Tear Jerker moments]]
[[index]]
[floatboxright:
'''Main topic:'''
* {{Tragedy}}

'''Categories:'''
* AbuseTropes
** ChildAbuseTropes
** SexualHarassmentAndRapeTropes
* BetrayalTropes
* DeathTropes
** ChoosingDeath
** FuneralTropes
** LastWords
** MurderTropes
* DysfunctionalFamilyIndex
* RevengeTropes
* SadnessTropes
** DespairTropes
* ThisIndexHasHadAHardLife
** LoserArchetype
]

* AbusiveParents: Being horribly mistreated by the very people who gave you life or raised you is traumatizing.
* AccidentalChildKillerBackstory: A kid is dead because of one avoidable mistake, and the perpetrator is scarred for life.
* AccidentalMurder: Especially if the character ended up killing someone they love and care for!
* AfterTheEnd: A CrapsackWorld wasteland is all that is left of a former civilization.
* AfterlifeAngst: A deceased person is unhappy in the afterlife.
* AlasPoorScrappy: The character was unlikable, but it's sad that they died.
* AlasPoorVillain: The character was evil, but it's sad that they died.
* AlasPoorYorick: A character laments a fallen loved one while holding the person's skull.
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: It's sad that this character is mistreated by others just for being different.
* AlwaysWithYou: A character assures another that their impact on them will remain even after being separated. Can overlap with SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}}.
* AngstySurvivingTwin: A person is upset that they've outlived their twin.
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Someone who's harbored their feelings for another person ends up confessing their love when it looks like they and their object of affection are done for.
* AntagonistInMourning: The villain is sad that the hero has died.
* AnyoneCanDie: The thought that anyone and everyone we know and love could die when we least expect it is depressing to think about.
* AwfulTruth: The truth is sad/horrifying.
* BackstoryHorror: Something seemingly harmless has something horrible embedded into their {{Backstory}}.
* TheBadGuyWins: The villain has won, meaning that the heroes' efforts to defeat them and put an end to their evil ways were AllForNothing.
* BecameTheirOwnAntithesis: It's tragic that this person has now become the opposite of what they once were, especially if they used to be someone good.
* BeingEvilSucks: It's miserable to be evil all of your life.
* BeingGoodSucks: It's miserable to be good to others.
* BeyondRedemption: A character gives up on trying to redeem a villain.
* ABirthdayNotABreak: It can be quite melancholy to see someone suffer misfortunes even on their birthday.
* BittersweetEnding: It would be a completely happy ending were it not for one tragic detail of how the story has ended.
* BornUnlucky: It's sad that this person has suffered misfortune their entire life.
* BreakTheComedian: A character used to be jokey until something tragic happened to them.
* BreakTheCutie: [[TheCutie An adorable and lovable character]] goes through a horrible experience that shatters their innocence, sometimes permanently.
* BrokenAce: [[TheAce A highly-skilled character with good publicity]] puts up a façade to conceal their bitter, cynical feelings about themselves and the world around them.
* BrokenAngel: A fantasy creature loses what makes them fantastical. They might be able to recover what they lost, or become permanently mundane.
* BrokenBird: A female character who has gone through hell.
* BrokenPedestal: The tragic circumstance of someone becoming disillusioned towards their favorite hero after learning that the person isn't half as good and heroic as they thought they were.
* BrokenTears: A character starts crying to show that the misfortunes they've endured have taken their toll on them.
* BullyMagnet: A character who always gets bullied.
* BusCrash: Revealing that a character who was phased out of the show had died since their departure is usually very sad.
* ButNowIMustGo: A hero leaves the vicinity after fulfilling their mission.
* ButtMonkey (whenever {{played for drama}} instead of [[PlayedForLaughs laughs]]).
* CannotKillTheirLovedOnes: The inverse of KillTheOnesYouLove. Just as capable of causing tears.
* CatharticCrying: When a person releases pent-up tears.
* CelebrityElegy: A song mourning a recently dead celebrity.
* CharacterDeath: It's sad to see a character die[[note]]Unless they were a villain, RedShirt, or similar[[/note]].
* TheCharacterDiedWithHim: A character is killed off after the actor who played them has died, which is often done out of respect for the original actor's memory or because the original actor was considered irreplaceable.
* ComfortTheDying: A tragic death-scene, in which one person tries to make the dying person comfortable.
* CradleOfLoneliness: A character holds the keepsake of a distant or deceased friend or loved one close to them, to show how sad and lonely they are.
* CrapsackWorld: It's sad that the work's setting is a horrible place to live.
* CrisisOfFaith: A person with religious beliefs begins to question the merit of having them after an unpleasant experience.
* CruelTwistEnding: The protagonist tragically suffers at the last minute just so the story can end on a cruel note.
* CryForTheDevil: The audience feels sorry for the villain's misfortunes.
* CryIntoChest: A character breaks down sobbing into the chest of their friend or lover.
* CryingAfterSex: Not always, but it can be sad if they were raped, or are angsting over loss of virginity.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's sad that this character had a bad past.
* DarkReprise: The sadder version of the previously played happy song often occurs during sad scenes to amplify the tragedy.
* DeathFic: A fan fiction about a character's death.
* DeathByChildbirth: It's sad that the mother died giving birth to her child.
* DeathByNewberyMedal: A work aimed at children has someone die for the sake of pathos.
* DeathByOriginStory: The reason the hero became a hero in the first place was because someone they loved died.
* ADeathInTheLimelight: When a minor character finally gets the spotlight, their story ends with them dead.
* DeathOfAChild: When works don't shy away from depicting children dying.
* DeathSeeker: A character so distraught by their situation that they desperately want to get killed can be very disheartening.
* DeathWail: Someone screams at seeing a loved one die.
* DelusionsOfParentalLove: It's very heartbreaking to see a child so desperate for their parents' love that they'd rather delude themselves rather than acknowledge that their parents don't actually care for them.
* Crossing the DespairEventHorizon.
* DesperatePleaForHome: A character pushed to the limits of fear or grief expresses a desire to go home, often being unable to return home at all.
* DesperatelyCravesAffection: This character has felt isolated from others for so long, they have become desperate to feel loved and may go to extreme lengths to get it.
* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: This character does not know what they want to do with their life, and are trying to find their purpose.
* DevastatingRemark: Someone says something that leaves another person an emotional wreck.
* DiabolusExMachina: Something comes out of nowhere to cause things to go wrong in the story, which will usually end in tragedy.
* DidNotGetTheGirl: The main character does not win the affection of the person they loved.
* DiedInYourArmsTonight: A dying character is cradled in the arms of an onlooker.
* DisappointedInYou: It can be depressing to see someone being called a disappointment by a friend, loved one or idol.
* DisneyDeath: A death later turns out to be a fake-out, but that doesn't make the moment where it was believed the character actually died any less sad.
* DoNotGoGentle: [[YourDaysAreNumbered They know they will die soon]], but they won't let that stop them from going out in a blaze of glory.
* DoomedHometown: This person's town was destroyed early in their life.
* DownerBeginning: The story has a sad beginning.
* DownerEnding: The story has a sad ending.
* DrivenToSuicide: Someone ends up killing themselves because they see no point to keep living and suffering.
* DyingAlone: It's sad that this person won't have anyone around to mourn their demise.
* DyingAsYourself: Someone dies after being freed of the corruption that took over them.
* DyingDeclarationOfLove: Someone tragically dies as they confess their love for a person.
* DyingDream: It turns out the entire story was just a hallucination the protagonist is experiencing as they're dying.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: A character ends up dying, but makes sure they go out doing something cool.
* DirtyBusiness: A character does something [[ShootTheDog morally ambiguous]] at best and is [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone regretful]] about it.
* EmptyBedroomGrieving: If the person is deceased, the left-behind loved ones or friends will leave their bedrooms untouched, often as a way to either honor them or conversely as a way of not moving on or being in denial about the death.
* EmptyShell: This person's only alive from a base metabolic standpoint. Everything else of them is dead.
* EndOfSeriesAwareness: Depending on how well it is done, it can be very depressing to see a series' final installment conclude with the characters actually acknowledging that the series has ended.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: It's sad that the apocalypse is imminent.
* ExtremeDoormat: It is sad to see someone take constant abuse with barely any resistance.
* EtTuBrute: Betrayal is one of the worst things that can happen to a character, and it can especially hit hard if it's someone the character trusted most in the world.
* EverybodyCries: All the characters present are brought to tears.
* EverybodyDiesEnding: ''No one'' survives the events of the story.
* EvilAllAlong: A character finds out that someone they believed was on their side and trusted, was evil the entire time, manipulating them and never genuinely caring about them.
* EvilFormerFriend: It's a special kind of twist to make the standard good vs. evil conflict more tragic by establishing that the villain used to be the hero's friend.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Someone who finds out that their death is imminent chooses to accept their fate calmly.
* FaceHeelTurn: A hero becoming a bad guy can especially be sad if their misdeeds undo the good they've done and their changing of alliances now means that their former friends will have to fight their corrupted ex-comrade.
* FalseFriend: A character discovers that a person they believed was their friend actually wasn't and was only manipulating them to advance their goals.
* FinalFirstHug: A character doesn't show affection towards a loved one until that loved one is dying.
* FondMemoriesThatCouldHaveBeen: It's sad to see someone fantasize on how things would've been if the person they loved hadn't died.
* ForcedIntoEvil: It's tragic to see a person do bad things because they've been forced to.
* ForegoneConclusion: The audience already knows how the story will end even if they've seen it for the first time and haven't heard any spoilers prior to viewing. While this is not always sad (the conclusion might be "Alice and Bob have kids" or something), it often involves something tragic.
* FreakOut: A character goes through a traumatic experience that results in a major personality change, whether short-term or permanently.
* FreudianExcuse, especially if said excuse is sympathetic and the villains end up feeling bad for their actions.
* FriendlessBackground: It's sad when the character begins the story without any friends.
* GoOutWithASmile: A person dying is sad enough without the person smiling in their death.
* GoThroughMe: A defender interposes themselves between the attacker and their target
* GriefSong: A song where the singer sings about how the disappearance and/or death of a loved one makes them sad.
* TheGrotesque: A hideous person who means well in spite of being ugly, which can especially be tear-jerking if their ugliness tends to turn people away.
* GuiltComplex: This character [[ItsAllMyFault blames themselves]] for everything.
* GutPunch: A moment in a work that quickly and permanently shifts the work to a darker tone.
* HappierHomeMovie: Goes to show what the person's life used to be like visually before now.
* HappyEndingOverride: A sequel undoes the happy ending of a previous installment.
* HeartbrokenBadass: The hero is upset because they lost their significant other.
* SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} can sometimes overlap with this.
* HeelFaceDoorSlam: A character never got the chance to switch to the side of good.
* HeelRealization: A character is distraught upon realizing that what they've been doing is wrong.
* TheHeroDies: [[CaptainObvious A heroic character dies]]. Can overlap with TheBadGuyWins.
* HeroicBSOD: TheHero is so traumatized by an event that they are at a loss for words.
* HeroicSacrifice: A character willingly lets themselves get killed to help others.
* HeroicSelfDeprecation: In spite of this character's heroic actions, they have a low opinion of themselves.
* HeWillNotCrySoICryForHim: A friend or lover shows their sensitivity and kindness by crying in place of their friend/lover's sadness.
* HopeSpot: Right when it looks like things will change for the better, those hopes are immediately dashed.
* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: This person once had everything. Now they have nothing.
* IAmAMonster: It's really heartbreaking to hear someone call themselves a monster to show just how much they hate themselves for [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone what they've done]].
* IAmNotPretty, bonus points if the person has been constantly picked on for being ugly.
* IDieFree: A slave takes solace in the fact that dying means they no longer have to live in enslavement.
* IHaveAFamily: Seeing someone get their life threatened is already unpleasant to see, but it's even worse when the person tries to persuade their attacker to spare them by bringing up they have a spouse and children (and is especially heartbreaking if this plea doesn't deter the attacker at all).
* IHaveNoSon: A family member (usually a child) being disowned is heartbreaking[[note]]Unless they were a villain who was disowned due to their evil.[[/note]].
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: This person wants to be/stay beautiful.
* IJustWantToBeLoved: Nobody loves this loner, who wants to be loved more than anything.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: This person stands out among the crowd, and they want to fit in among it.
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: This person fits in among the crowd, and they want to stand out among it.
* IJustWantToBeYou: A particularly GreenEyedMonster wants to be the person they envy.
* IJustWantToHaveFriends: This loner wants to have people with them.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Fighting a corrupted or transformed friend while trying to get the good in them to overcome the evil inside them.
* ILetGwenStacyDie: The hero feels responsible for causing a loved one to die.
* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: This person acts all high and mighty to cover their own insecurities.
* InjuredSelfDrag: Watching a character struggle for their survival by trying to move while suffering the intense pain of their wounds is likely to break the hearts of the audience.
* ItsAllMyFault: It's sad that this person blames themselves for other people's problems.
* ItsAWonderfulFailure: It's sad that this game shows you the consequences of getting a GameOver.
* IveComeTooFar: A character goes ahead in doing something reprehensible because they've resigned to how futile it has become to just call it quits.
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Someone is attracted to a person, but is willing for the other person to be with someone else if it means that the person they love would be happier that way.
* JerkassWoobie: When audiences feel that the person may have been a jerk, but what they suffered was still undeserved.
* KarmaHoudini, if the villain’s crimes were [[MoralEventHorizon especially atrocious]], and their victims have been denied justice.
* KarmicMisfire: A tragic circumstance where an innocent person gets undeserved punishment while the one who's truly responsible [[KarmaHoudini gets off scot-free]].
* KarmicOverkill: This character deserved [[LaserGuidedKarma karmic retribution]], but the way they were punished was ''way'' too harsh.
* KickTheDog, especially when done particularly cruelly.
* KidsAreCruel: It's sad that this society is inhabited by sociopathic children.
* KilledOffForReal: A character is permanently killed off, which can especially be sad if the character was sympathetic and well-liked.
* KillTheCutie: [[TheCutie An adorable and lovable character]] [[CharacterDeath dies]].
* KillTheOnesYouLove: Someone is forced to kill a loved one.
* KillUsBoth: Someone is forced to kill their friend while the friend is subduing the bad guy.
* LastKiss: A couple kisses one last time before one or both dies.
* LastOfHisKind: A character who is the last surviving member of their race.
* LetThemDieHappy: Lying to a dying loved one so that they're happy in their final moments.
* LonelyAtTheTop: Being successful has the downside of not having room for friends.
* LonelyPianoPiece: Sad music, usually slow and on a piano, to signify that a character is lonely and/or in a hopeless situation.
* LonersWillStayAlone: A character wants to have friends, but being alone makes them too socially-awkward to make any.
* LongLastLook: A character's never going back to a place, so they take a final look.
* TheLostLenore: The person's significant other's death affects them.
* LostPetGrievance: It doesn't matter if you had them for 20 days or 20 years; losing a pet is always very sad.
* A character crying ManlyTears.
* MayflyDecemberFriendship: Friendship between an immortal and a mortal has the downside that the immortal friend will eventually outlive the mortal friend.
* MayflyDecemberRomance: Love between an immortal and a mortal has the downside that the immortal will eventually outlive their mortal lover.
* MeaningfulFuneral: A well-liked character's funeral is shown for pathos.
* MelancholyMusicalNumber: A sad song.
* MercyKill: Having to kill someone because letting them live would just prolong their suffering.
* MinorInsultMeltdown: A character who was annoyed by another means to only insult them minorly, but the other character takes it ''very'' badly.
* TheMourningAfter: A person doesn't take the death or leaving of their significant other very well.
* Particularly horrific cases of the MoralEventHorizon.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: A character is consumed with guilt over what they have done.
* MyGreatestFailure: The hero is haunted by an incident where they failed to save someone they cared about.
* NeverGotToSayGoodbye: Think loved ones dying is sad already? Not getting a chance to say goodbye before then is even worse.
* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: A person gets punished for doing what is right.
* NotNowWereTooBusyCryingOverYou {{subvert|edTrope}}s this for [[RuleOfFunny comedy]].
* NotSoStoic: TheStoic has suffered so much that they lose their façade and reveal themselves to be emotionally vulnerable after all, temporarily or otherwise.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When a character momentarily [[OutOfCharacterMoment breaks away from their normal habits]] to make a point about the seriousness of the situation.
* OneLastSong: The last thing someone hears before dying is a song.
* OnePersonBirthdayParty: A person who has to celebrate their birthday alone because they have no friends.
* OneWomanWail: If the melancholy, wordless singing of a woman or a young boy is heard in the score, things have gone south.
* OutlivingOnesOffspring: Seeing a parent outlive their child is seldom anything besides tragic.
* PartingWordsRegret: A character is upset about the last thing they said to a loved one before they died.
* PersonalHorror: Low self esteem or similar, PlayedForDrama.
* PlanningForTheFutureBeforeTheEnd: It can be very depressing to see someone promise something that, due to incoming death, can't possibly be kept.
* PlayerPunch: A moment in a VideoGame that exploits the player's emotional connection to the fictional world and its characters to upset them, such as the death of a likable ally.
* PlayingTheHeartStrings: String music used for emotional moments.
* PleaseDontLeaveMe: A character desperately begs their loved ones to not go away and leave them.
* PleaseWakeUp: Someone assumes that a dead person is just sleeping, which can end in tragedy when they try to get the dead person to wake up.
* PlotMandatedFriendshipFailure: Even if the plot does mandate it, it can be disheartening to see an established friendship fail to last.
* PostSupportRegret: A character believes in their BestFriend despite their bad behavior and does everything to support them, only to be broken-hearted when the friend proves to not be a good person at all.
* PreSacrificeFinalGoodbye: TheHero tells their loved ones or TrueCompanions goodbye before making their HeroicSacrifice.
* PrankGoneTooFar: The PracticalJoke is mercifully not lethal, but the victim ''isn't'' laughing.
* ProtagonistJourneyToVillain: The story is about a hero gradually turning to the dark side, with tragedy inevitably to occur from watching how the good guy became bad and what they start doing once they're evil.
* RapeAsBackstory: It's sad that this person's past involved getting raped.
* RapeAsDrama: A character getting raped is played completely seriously.
* ReallyDeadMontage: After a character dies, a montage of scenes where they were alive is played solely to accentuate that the dead character is never coming back and actually is gone for good.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: A character dies after reforming.
* ReformedButRejected: No one will accept you even if you had a change of heart.
* RejectedApology: A character rejecting another's apology can be heartbreaking, especially if the one apologizing truly did want to make up for what they did wrong.
* RestrictedRescueOperation: No matter what you do you can't save everyone.
* ReunionVow: Someone promises to see another person again, but it seems unlikely they ever will.
* RunningAwayToCry: Someone is too embarrassed to cry in public, so they run away to cry.
* SadClown: A jokester is revealed to be using their sense of humor to hide their pain and insecurities.
* SayMyName: Not always sad, but one reason one character may yell another's name is because something bad happened to the second one.
* SeparatedByTheWall: Two characters are separated by a wall, which symbolises a serious problem that's keeping them apart.
* SourOutsideSadInside: A grumpy character is depressed and distraught on the inside.
* ShooOutTheClowns: The humorous characters are left out to make things more serious and tragic.
* ShooTheDog: It can be heartbreaking to see someone trying to force their beloved pet to leave.
* ShootTheDog: A person is forced to do something not very nice because there's no other option.
* ShootTheShaggyDog: A character dies and their efforts turn out to be pointless to add insult to injury.
* SimpleScoreOfSadness: Slow, soft BackgroundMusic indicates a sad scene.
* SingleTear: A character has one teardrop.
* SkywardScream: Sometimes can be sad if the reason the character is screaming is due to despair.
* SoleSurvivor: An entire team is killed except for one surviving member.
* SoProudOfYou: While usually a happy trope, it can be sad if the person was discouraged before being told this, or if something like "Your father [[DisappearedDad would have been]] proud of you" is said.
* SorrowfulStutter: A grieving person chokes up while speaking about a deceased loved one.
* SpurnedIntoSuicide: Someone takes being rejected by their object of affection so poorly that they kill themselves over it.
* StarCrossedLovers: Two lovers for some reason cannot be together.
* StartsWithTheirFuneral: We know the protagonist will die as it begins with their funeral.
* StayWithMeUntilIDie: Someone knows they're dying and asks another to stay with them.
* Finding out someone is a StepfordSmiler, especially if the reason they're sad inside is extremely heartbreaking.
* StoodUp: Two characters try to get together but one never shows up.
* SurvivorGuilt: A character feels guilty because others died.
* TakeCareOfTheKids: A person about to die asks for someone to look after their children once they are gone.
* TakenForGranite: A living life-form is turned to stone by dark magic, frozen forever in time. It's sad when the other characters find out what happened to them (unless they were a villain). Usually, [[CurseEscapeClause there is a way to return them to normal]], [[FateWorseThanDeath but not always]].
* TakenOffLifeSupport: A person on life support has their machine unplugged with the reasoning that it's hopeless for their loved ones to keep waiting for the person to recover.
* TakingTheBullet: Jumping into harm's way to save someone who would've died had action not been taken.
* TargetedToHurtTheHero: A character who is hurt or killed off to torment another character who cares about them.
* TearDryer: A heartwarming moment comes right after a sad scene.
* TearsOfRemorse: When a character cries over a horrible thing they've done.
* TenderTears: A character cries out of kindness/sensitivity.
* ThenLetMeBeEvil: A person really tried to be good, but so many people insisted on seeing the worst in them that they've submitted to being as bad as those people accused them of being.
* TheyDiedBecauseOfYou: Knowing that you unwittingly caused the death of a friend or family member is a gut-wrenching feeling.
* TheOneThatGotAway (if storytelling is done ''beautifully'' in a tragic way)
* TogetherInDeath: A couple dies together.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: A wholesome and kindhearted character dies in a CrapsackWorld.
* TooInjuredToSave: A person who is dying, but no one can do anything to help them now.
* TooYoungToDieLamentation: A young person pleads that they don't want to die because of how much they haven't experienced yet.
* TorturedMonster: A monster feels so much pain that they would rather cease to exist than continue living as they are.
* TragicAbandonedToy: A sentient toy grieves after being lost or forgotten.
* TragicBigot: A bigot whose prejudice stems from a painful or traumatic experience inflicted upon them by a member of the group.
* TragicDream: It can be very sad to see someone accept that they have a dream that will never come true.
* TragicHero: A flawed hero who's doomed to fail.
* TragicKeepsake: Keeping a dead loved one's object.
* TragicMonster: Someone is turned into a monster and is miserable because of it.
* TragicRobot: A robot with an emotional plot.
* TragicStillbirth: It's sad that the would-be parents' child died before it was even born.
* TragicVillain: The villain knows that what they're doing is wrong, but feels that it's too late for them to redeem themselves.
* TraumaCongaLine: A characters goes through trauma after trauma.
* TrueArtIsAngsty, for when having enough tragedy will award a work with critical acclaim.
* TwilightOfTheSupers: In a setting where superheroes used to be common, all the superheroes have either been killed, permanently stripped of their powers, or forced into retirement.
* TwistedChristmas: Something terrible happens on Christmas.
* UndyingLoyalty: Nothing gets the tears flowing quite like seeing a servant or companion who will still be with their employer or friend even if they have every reason to abandon them.
* UnrequitedLoveLastsForever: A character never lets go of their unrequited love.
* UnstoppableRage: A character goes on a destructive rampage after being significantly angered, which can be caused by seeing a loved one get harmed.
* TheUnwittingComedian: Everyone laughs at this person even though they weren't trying to be funny.
* UsedToBeASweetKid: It's sad that this villain or jerk was a lot nicer as a child.
* {{Utsuge}}: A sad, Japanese video game.
* VengeanceFeelsEmpty: The character doesn't feel any satisfaction in repaying another with revenge.
* VillainousBSOD: The gravity of the villain's offenses crushes them and they completely shut down as a result.
* VillainousBreakdown: If the villain is sympathetic and was committing their misdeeds out of a misguided effort of doing right, then it can be upsetting to see them fly into a berserk tantrum over their plans being thwarted.
* WarIsHell: The story focuses on the downsides of warfare, such as countless people getting killed and the soldiers fighting in the war being traumatized by the bloodshed they had to endure.
* WasItAllALie: Someone finds out that a person had lied to them and ponders whether the fabrication means everything involving their relationship with this person was insincere.
* WasItReallyWorthIt: It can be sad to see someone question whether achieving their goal was truly worth what they had to do to make it possible.
* WasTooHardOnHim: A character feels bad when they have to scold another, especially if it's really harsh.
* WatchingTroyBurn: Your home or a place you love is being destroyed and all you can do is watch.
* WellDoneSonGuy: It's sad that this person never gets any respect from their parental figure.
* WeUsedToBeFriends: It's really gut-wrenching to watch former friends become antagonistic towards each other.
* WidowedAtTheWedding: It's tragic that this person became a widow or widower because their spouse got killed immediately after they were wed.
* TheWoobie '''is''' from this trope.
* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: A character who's had it rough is driven by their misery to cause a lot of destruction and death.
* YankTheDogsChain: A suffering person looks like they'll have fortune smile on them for once, but have their chance at happiness ruined at the last minute.
* YouAreNotAlone: A character brightens up a sad character's day.
* YouAreWorthHell: A character joins their LoveInterest in a terrible situation.
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: A character is destined to never go home.
* YouHaveFailedMe: Especially to a really lovable character.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: A villain kills an underling due to finding them no longer useful.
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: A person gets upset because another person praises them for doing something that they know is wrong.
* YoureNotMyFather: It can really sting to see someone deny that their parent or parental figure is their parent to said parent or parental figure's face, especially if the person's legal guardian wasn't abusive in any way and actually cared about the child they raised.
[[/index]]
[[/folder]]
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!!Examples (Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease):
[[index]]
* TearJerker/{{Advertising}}
* TearJerker/AnimeAndManga
* TearJerker/ComicBooks
* TearJerker/ComicStrips
* TearJerker/{{Documentary}}
* TearJerker/FanWorks
* [[TearJerker/AnimatedFilms Films — Animation]]
* [[TearJerker/{{Film}} Films — Live-Action]]
* TearJerker/LetsPlay
* TearJerker/{{Literature}}
* TearJerker/LiveActionTV
* TearJerker/{{Magazines}}
* TearJerker/{{Music}}
* Tearjerker/MusicVideos
* TearJerker/{{Podcast}}
* TearJerker/ProfessionalWrestling
* TearJerker/{{Radio}}
* TearJerker/{{Roleplay}}
* TearJerker/TabletopGames
* TearJerker/{{Theatre}}
* TearJerker/VideoGames
* TearJerker/VisualNovels
* TearJerker/{{Webcomics}}
* TearJerker/WebOriginal
* TearJerker/WesternAnimation
* TearJerker/OtherMedia
[[/index]]
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If you want to feel happy again, either [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments this TV Tropes page]], [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments this page]], or [[SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel this page]] will do the trick.
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