Thesaurus
Synonyms & Antonyms of plaintive
expressing or suggesting mourning
- the puppy's plaintive expression after we put the toy away was rather amusing
Synonyms for plaintive
Words Related to plaintive
- dirgelike,
- elegiac
- (also elegiacal),
- melancholy
- dejected,
- depressed,
- despondent,
- disconsolate,
- dispirited,
- downcast,
- downhearted,
- heartsick,
- heartsore,
- inconsolable,
- tearful
Near Antonyms for plaintive
- ecstatic,
- elated,
- euphoric,
- exhilarated,
- giddy,
- heady,
- rapturous,
- rhapsodic
- (also rhapsodical)
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More About plaintive
Listen to Our Podcast About plaintive
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!
Cite this Entry
“Plaintive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintive. Accessed 28 Oct. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Dog Words Quiz
-
- Which of the following animals has a dog in its etymology?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
-
“In Vino Veritas” and Other Latin Phrases to Live By
Top 10 Latin Phrases
-
'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
The secret top 10 words experts use to win at SCR...
-
Rhetorical Devices Used in Pop Songs
Rhetorical devices in pop songs
-
Merriam-Webster's Words of the Week - Oct. 22
From the week ending 10/22/2021
Ask the Editors
Share plaintive
Time Traveler for plaintive
The first known use of plaintive was circa 1570
See more words from the same year