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
Hoffhines’ plaintive message indicated that captive agents knew of the policy to deny claims.
—
J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
Williams' plaintive score is deceptively simple and moving, mostly comprised of melodic piano tracks.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
The jazz piano of Bill Evans was characterized by grace and poise, a lightness of touch yielding a plaintive depth of feeling, that belied a life beset with chaos and tragedy.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Andersen issues a plaintive and impassioned plea for understanding and compassion about the plight and perilous circumstances of refugees.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plaintive
J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
Williams' plaintive score is deceptively simple and moving, mostly comprised of melodic piano tracks.
—Alex Galbraith, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
The jazz piano of Bill Evans was characterized by grace and poise, a lightness of touch yielding a plaintive depth of feeling, that belied a life beset with chaos and tragedy.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Andersen issues a plaintive and impassioned plea for understanding and compassion about the plight and perilous circumstances of refugees.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plaintive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaintive
Adjective
-
Then, in the Andante movement, the upper strings opened with a glassy sound before the mournful line of the cello entered.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Over the years, humpback whale songs have been recorded for human listening, with many describing the songs as having a haunting, mournful quality.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
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
-
In a news release shared by the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, investigators said that they were made aware of several theft victims who had things stolen from their cars while attending funeral services at the cemetery, which is located in the 22000 block of Van Buren Boulevard.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Cyrene then instructs her son to appease the nymphs, Eurydice’s companions, and to make funeral offerings to Eurydice’s husband Orpheus.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Jesse O’Hara, said his clients were distraught and heartbroken over the treatment of their baby.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Fayez Dakkak, a third-generation Muslim storeowner in the Old City whose shop has catered to Christian pilgrims since 1942, said he was heartbroken over Al Aqsa's closure during the Islamic holy month.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
-
Coming in tandem with currently skyrocketing oil prices and new sets of tariffs imposed by the president to replace the earlier ones, this situation is an especially bitter pill for low-income and even average families whose budgets are already stressed.—
Robert Hormats,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Hemp vs marijuana The hemp industry and the licensed marijuana industry have been in a bitter battle.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plaintive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintive. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
