plaintive

adjective

ˈplān-tiv How to pronounce plaintive (audio)
Definition of plaintivenext
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning the puppy's plaintive expression after we put the toy away was rather amusing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plaintive Hoffhines’ plaintive message indicated that captive agents knew of the policy to deny claims. — J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026 Petzold’s enigmatic and plaintive Miroirs, on the other hand, has nothing to do with soccer, despite the director’s longtime passion for the sport. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026 The steady, unwavering empathy of her gaze encompasses a universe of tiny, interlaced incidents in which the zany entwines the plaintive, or the tragic the comic. — Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026 Assembled by Norwegian label Smalltown Supersound from over 100 demos, the tender, intimate album reveals the melodic heart and plaintive spirit of Beeler’s music, which sounds fetching, and occasionally unsettling, in this sparser form. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for plaintive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaintive
  1. mournful
  2. weeping
  3. funeral
  4. heartbroken
  5. wailing
  6. bitter
Adjective
  • The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
  • The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
    — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Definition of mournful
Adjective
  • And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
    — David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
  • The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
    — Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Definition of weeping
Adjective
  • When Khomeini’s coffin began moving in a convoy, mourners surged towards it, causing a crowd crush and forcing the funeral procession to be abandoned, according to ISNA.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Amid the inextricable trauma of losing her 18-year-old child, the mother had feared that traditional funeral customs might be handled differently because of the manner in which her daughter died.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of funeral
Adjective
  • Was, still heartbroken about the loss of his friend and bandmate, recalled their first time on tour.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Prince Harry was heartbroken after arriving at Eton College in 1998.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 30 June 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • Sitting opposite an old people’s home in a residential corner of Paris’ 14th arrondissement, La Santé’s unassuming presence is only given away by the occasional wailing siren as prisoners are transported to and from the site.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of wailing
Adjective
  • Losing to a rival is bad enough, but how the defeat unfolded is sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of one of the greatest strikers ever.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2026
  • The empty hotels have now become a bitter symbol of the collapse of an industry once seen as key to Cuba’s economic future.
    — Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of bitter

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Cite this Entry

“Plaintive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintive. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plaintive

Nglish: Translation of plaintive for Spanish Speakers

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