1
as in lamentation
a crying out in grief
the day after the massacre the plaints of bereaved mothers and wives could be heard throughout the village
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complaint
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
that taxes are too high is perhaps the most perennial of plaints
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of plaint
But Barham plays the role both for plaints and for boasts.
—
Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Gay’s plaint is a variation of the good speakers are born belief.
—Jerry Weissman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
And to be perfectly fair, the New Deal had seven or eight big years of operation (the plaints about the Supreme Court etc. blocking reforms being so many excuses).
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Goldberger's plaint is overstated.
—Michelle Goldberg, Star Tribune, 8 June 2021
Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Gay’s plaint is a variation of the good speakers are born belief.
—Jerry Weissman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
And to be perfectly fair, the New Deal had seven or eight big years of operation (the plaints about the Supreme Court etc. blocking reforms being so many excuses).
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Goldberger's plaint is overstated.
—Michelle Goldberg, Star Tribune, 8 June 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaint
Noun
-
The ghetto is full of lamentation.—
Dr. Michael Good,
Hartford Courant,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The space was replete with the repetitive knocking of drumsticks, the undulating rhythm of Qur’anic prayers, and the gut-wrenching murmur of lamentation coming from That is not still (Sesuatu yang tidak berdiam), a 2024 video work about Indonesia’s diverse soundscape.—
Hung Duong,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The complaint argues that federal officers’ use of chemical munitions and excessive force represents retaliation against protesters, which violates their First Amendment rights.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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The complaint, from May 2025, first made headlines when the Wall Street Journal reported Monday on the lengthy process taken to prepare the highly sensitive document for lawmaker viewing.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In some, relatives are seen walking among the black bags, trying to identify the deceased, as wails and screams fill the background.—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
-
At times, the noise of grinding gears can obscure the soprano whoops and wails of the preschoolers.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
No suspicious whine in the air, no burning of pungent oils to put off biters.—
Antonia Quirke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
These are no longer the days of whine and turned-up noses.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
30 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In 2022, Japanese researchers found that dogs produced tears when reuniting with their humans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Blum looked around, stunned with tears welling in her eyes.—
Aaron Sullivan,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In nearly every instance, the government has blamed foreign conspiracies instead of acknowledging legitimate grievances over the country’s economic collapse, political repression, corruption, social suppression, and international isolation.—
Omid Memarian,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Her team filed a grievance, and at the same time, European clubs were ready to pay her what the NWSL said was impossible.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Leaders in Illinois, Massachusetts and Vermont don’t trust their residents to act responsibly enough to fulfill Adams’ rallying cry.—
Brad Weisenstein,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Seeing Sparkle cry about Landfair’s experience — something that Landfair hadn’t fully come to terms with — was discombobulating and infuriating.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There is inward-looking anger in Thompson’s voice, halfway between rebuke and lament.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Salford Red Pete Martin sang the Flowers of Manchester lament.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaint. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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