Upset by tense reprimand (7)

I believe the answer is:

tearful

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'upset' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'tense reprimand' is the wordplay.
'tense' becomes 't' (abbreviation used in many dictionaries).
'reprimand' becomes 'earful' (earful is a kind of reprimand).
't'+'earful'='TEARFUL'

'by' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tearful that I've seen before include "visibly distressed" , "Lachrimose" , "Visibly upset" , "crying" , "emotional" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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