as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
the puppy's plaintive expression after we put the toy away was rather amusing
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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
-
Joining in the festivities is outgoing French student Chloé (Cécile Matignon, hugely appealing), ostensibly in a relationship but flirting brazenly with Nicolau, who even after a few beers is too mournful to pick up the signals.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
10 July 2025
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The mournful cries of nearby Slow-Lows draw attention from other infected in the area, who plant themselves along the top of a picturesque hill waiting for the Alpha’s signal to attack.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 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
-
April 23, 2025 But a papal funeral is a papal funeral, and those present for the funeral Mass on Saturday, along with millions watching online or on TV around the world, will still observe a solemn moment involving sumptuous Catholic pageantry.—
Elisabetta Povoledo,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
Ak’s heartbroken family are still reeling from her death.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
-
Faced with no other option, the heartbroken family surrendered Draco to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC), despite having loved and raised him for over five years.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
Instead of feeling defeated or bitter, choose to get better.—
Sandra Balogun,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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Despite her success as an art professor and painter, Ruth feels adrift and bitter.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plaintive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintive. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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