as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
the puppy's plaintive expression after we put the toy away was rather amusing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
This pageant of puppetry includes a flutter of butterflies, a goat with a plaintive bleat, a menagerie of wild animals and, at one point, a school of glowing fish.
—
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
One longtime sufferer unleashes the gift of gab Fragrance
Royal Flush
An evocative scent created for the Duke of Windsor carries a note of plaintive decadence today
The Look From Here
The New Power Suit
How could one tiny piece of fabric be such a source of anxiety?
—Tuppence Middleton, Air Mail, 8 May 2025
The threat of retaliation is no joke, but the Senator’s plaintive cry does not exactly meet the demands of the moment.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
John compared Autumn Variations to his own downtempo, plaintive 1970 album Tumbleweed Connection—and reminded him his music career should not be thought of as a constantly ascending escalator.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plaintive
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
One longtime sufferer unleashes the gift of gab Fragrance
Royal Flush
An evocative scent created for the Duke of Windsor carries a note of plaintive decadence today
The Look From Here
The New Power Suit
How could one tiny piece of fabric be such a source of anxiety?
—Tuppence Middleton, Air Mail, 8 May 2025
The threat of retaliation is no joke, but the Senator’s plaintive cry does not exactly meet the demands of the moment.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2025
John compared Autumn Variations to his own downtempo, plaintive 1970 album Tumbleweed Connection—and reminded him his music career should not be thought of as a constantly ascending escalator.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plaintive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaintive
Adjective
-
Once abundant on the island, this ground-foraging dove – with an earthy red-brown plumage and a quiet, mournful call – disappeared from the wild by 1972.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
-
Several of her patients left mournful messages on the Yelp page of her Arcadia practice.—
Clara Harter
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
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
Adjective
-
Maliciously or willfully disturbing a funeral, memorial service, procession or burial ceremony. Threatening, quarreling or challenging to fight someone, or fighting.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
16 June 2025
-
Visitation will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. local time at the Springhill Cemetery in Madison, Tenn., while the funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph Church.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
Raymond Cheadle, Honesty’s great-uncle, told WUSA the family, including the girl’s dad, is heartbroken.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
-
Pepe has the power to make two heartbroken Islanders immediately forget about their old connections.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
There were no bitter comments blaming liberal forest-management policies.—
Nick Allardice,
Time,
10 July 2025
-
Public records show the home belongs to former Councilman Bill Sanders, who ran for mayor and lost last year after a years-long history of bitter clashes with other city officials and staff.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plaintive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintive. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share