Synonyms of plaintively

plaintively

adverb

as in bitterly

with feelings of bitterness or grief

the man sighed plaintively as it became clear that he was getting nowhere with the officious bureaucrat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bitterly
• sorrowfully
• sadly
• mournfully
• painfully
• dolefully
• resentfully
• ruefully
• lugubriously
• sharply
• hard
• dolorously
• regretfully
• inconsolably
• unhappily
• harshly
• woefully
• grievously
• agonizingly
• wretchedly
• wailfully
• sorely
• despairingly
• despondently
• severely
• dejectedly
• disconsolately
• hardly
• forlornly
• dispiritedly
• morosely
• sullenly
• gloomily
• glumly
• cheerlessly
• abjectly
• somberly
• drearily
• miserably
• darkly
• distressfully
• dourly
• dismally
• poignantly
• pessimistically
• joylessly
• mirthlessly
• distressingly
• blackly
• piercingly
• acutely
• keenly
• cruelly
• rancorously
• crestfallenly
• hurtfully
• downheartedly
• ill
• low-spiritedly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• happily
• joyfully
• joyously
• gladly
• cheerfully
• blissfully
• cheerily
• delightedly
• gleefully
• merrily
• gaily
• lightheartedly
• calmly
• casually
• blithely
• nonchalantly
• indifferently
• lightly
• stoically
• easily
• impassively
• dispassionately
• unconcernedly
• sunnily
• mirthfully
• good-naturedly
• rejoicingly
• favorably
• well
• blithesomely

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of plaintively

Now he is stood plaintively at the window, looking in at the roaring hearth and the feast, starting Carabao Cup games but getting hooked at half-time with Jamie Gittens and 16-year-old academy kids. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

The evening tolling of the bell at the Hōshō-ji temple echoed plaintively. — Literary Hub, 28 May 2026

The video of Hodges crying out plaintively is the antithesis of how a cop wants to be seen. — Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026

As if to emphasize Marlo's point, an immature bald eagle called plaintively from the top of a nearby tree. — Crai S. Bower, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2023

Mia plaintively asks Philip at one particularly vulnerable moment. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019