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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plaintive
The record includes generic corn too, which even Langley’s plaintive voice can’t save.
—
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
Petzold’s enigmatic and plaintive Miroirs, on the other hand, has nothing to do with soccer, despite the director’s longtime passion for the sport.
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
The steady, unwavering empathy of her gaze encompasses a universe of tiny, interlaced incidents in which the zany entwines the plaintive, or the tragic the comic.
—
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
Hoffhines’ plaintive message indicated that captive agents knew of the policy to deny claims.
—
J.c. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plaintive
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
Petzold’s enigmatic and plaintive Miroirs, on the other hand, has nothing to do with soccer, despite the director’s longtime passion for the sport.
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
The steady, unwavering empathy of her gaze encompasses a universe of tiny, interlaced incidents in which the zany entwines the plaintive, or the tragic the comic.
—
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
Hoffhines’ plaintive message indicated that captive agents knew of the policy to deny claims.
—
J.c. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plaintive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaintive
Adjective
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The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
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The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
Adjective
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When Khomeini’s coffin began moving in a convoy, mourners surged towards it, causing a crowd crush and forcing the funeral procession to be abandoned, according to ISNA.
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Amid the inextricable trauma of losing her 18-year-old child, the mother had feared that traditional funeral customs might be handled differently because of the manner in which her daughter died.
Adjective
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Was, still heartbroken about the loss of his friend and bandmate, recalled their first time on tour.
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Prince Harry was heartbroken after arriving at Eton College in 1998.
Adjective
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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.
Adjective
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But to pay that extra and miss out on one of Samsung’s best hardware inventions in years would be a bitter pill to swallow.
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Many Lebanese also have bitter memories of the decades of Syrian occupation of Lebanon, which began during the Lebanese civil war, initially at the request of Lebanese authorities and with the backing of Arab states, ending in 2005.
Cite this Entry
“Plaintive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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