English

Noun

sobfest ‎(plural sobfests)

1. (informal) Something sad or moving, especially a film.
   • 2000, Jan King, It's a Girl Thing: The Hilarious Truth About Women, Andrews McMeel Publishing (2000), ISBN 9780740789113, page 6:

     But the most star-crossed pair of them all was Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford in the cinematic sobfest The Way We Were.

   • 2008, Alan Gelb, Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps: Crafting a Winning Personal Statement, Ten Speed Press (2008), ISBN 9780307768513, page 68:

     In terms of tonal errors, another common mishap is the maudlin sobfest—an essay that's foolishly and tearfully sentimental.

   • 2012, Jess Walter, Beautiful Ruins, HarperCollins (2012), ISBN 9780062098085, unnumbered page:

     Yeah, it might have even been a great pitch—for a film that could never be made: a Western epic with no gunfights and no romance, a three-hour sobfest that ends with the villain eating the hero's child.

2. (informal) An episode of intense crying.
   • 2010, Louann Brizendine, The Male Brain: A Breakthrough Understanding of How Men and Boys Think, Three Rivers Press (2010), ISBN 9780767927543, page 121:

     During the menopause, one wrong word or even just a look from Tom could send her slamming doors throughout the house and taking refuge in her greenhouse for a private sobfest.

   • 2010, Thomas M. Hill, Warrior's Song, Lampas Books (2010), ISBN 9781461099536, page 228:

     I smiled and then looked away, feeling a bit awkward and on the verge of a full-out sobfest.

   • 2011, Cindy Beall, Healing Your Marriage When Trust Is Broken: Finding Forgiveness and Restoration, Harvest House Publishers (2011), ISBN 9780736943161, page 180:

     Every single time Chris and I have shared our story with others, both of us have started to cry. Not an all-out sobfest, but a few tears falling down our cheeks.

Synonyms

• (something sad or moving): cryfest, tearjerker
• (intense crying episode): cryfest