PLAINT Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

plaint

noun

ˈplānt

Definition of plaint

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

as in complaint

an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment that taxes are too high is perhaps the most perennial of plaints

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 plaint Like Emanuel and his comrades, Harper and his film go a meaningful way in asking and offering an answer to that plaint. — Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026 Gay’s plaint is a variation of the good speakers are born belief. — Jerry Weissman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 This wry, lovelorn plaint is a cagey display of subtle dynamics and counterpoint on a lone electric guitar. — Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaint

Noun

After news of the settlement’s approval broke on Wednesday, Ruffalo, a lifelong, bleeding-heart advocate of progressive causes, took to X to share a lamentation.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2026
Ḥusayn’s death became for the Shiʿah a symbol of selfless resistance against worldly injustice and tyranny and is commemorated with lamentation each year on Ashura.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 July 2026

Definition of lamentation

Noun

Guzman has an April 2009 conviction of driving drunk and causing injury to another person in Sacramento County, according to the complaint.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Concerts at the stadium have been suspended since 2024 following complaints from neighbors about excessive noise.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of complaint

Noun

The separation scene is gut wrenching as Akiko fails to understand why she is being abandoned and gives one wail of a goodbye scene.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
Had likely started calling hospitals, shouting his name and description over the baby’s guttering wails, into the ears of phone operators and receptionists all over town.

— Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of wail

Noun

Our Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog saw them too and enthusiastically let out a small whine.

— Kody Lostroh, Denver Post, 5 Oct. 2026
The mystic whine of Christine Ott and Mathieu Gabry’s score carries us into a hidden world of ancient Thai deities living inside the mountain’s caves and tunnels.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of whine

Noun

At his Austin watch party, supporters celebrated the results with cheers, dancing and tears.

— Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Supporters cried tears of joy and hugged one another, sharing political news of the city and also the country, as the energy in the crowd further amped up seemingly every half-hour.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of tears

Noun

Indeed, how this film plays with Japan’s atomic grievances, tapping into a generation’s latent rage and the notion that opportunity is just tragedy that has shed its skin, feels like a culmination of 30-plus years of storytelling with the character.

— Zachary Lee, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2026
The suspect may have had a financial grievance, and authorities are investigating whether it's tied to the bank, sources told ABC News.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of grievance

Noun

And distinctly, the midterm turnout wasn’t a cry from voters to stop the buildout, but simply to put a new price tag on it, and OpenAI is the first major AI company to agree to pay it since the votes were counted.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
Fear factor Netanyahu and his allies made the large Arab turnout a rallying cry.

— Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of cry

Noun

Then comes the inevitable lament that cast iron is too much work.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026
The child studying English was met with loving lament, while the one pursuing computer science at Stanford University was the flag post of family pride.

— Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026