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
Stunted by the work of its actors, this plaintive vision of the Aymara people remains at a remove, stronger as a provocation on paper than as a morality tale on the screen.
—
Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
The unheard melody is unmistakably a plaintive one.
—April White, JSTOR Daily, 18 Nov. 2024
As Paddington, Ben Whishaw’s slightly plaintive voice merges seamlessly with Pablo Grillo’s furry animation.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Coldplay, once skewered by critics for being too plaintive and self-pitying, was now broadcasting the opposite message: everything is magic.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plaintive 
Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
The unheard melody is unmistakably a plaintive one.
—April White, JSTOR Daily, 18 Nov. 2024
As Paddington, Ben Whishaw’s slightly plaintive voice merges seamlessly with Pablo Grillo’s furry animation.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Coldplay, once skewered by critics for being too plaintive and self-pitying, was now broadcasting the opposite message: everything is magic.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plaintive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaintive
Adjective
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Angelo Badalamenti’s mournful, string-laden score draws us in, emphasizing the quaintness of the visuals, while also suggesting a deeper pain at the core of this place.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
19 Jan. 2025
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The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) shared a sorrowful story across their social media feeds about a mournful looking cat.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2025
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.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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The funeral procession that climaxes Emilia Pérez is the damnedest, craziest thing since Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic minions draped kente cloth stoles over their shoulders and kneeled to canonize George Floyd at the Capitol.—
Armond White,
National Review,
29 Jan. 2025
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On Thursday, dozens of people took part in funeral prayers outside Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza city of Deir al Balah for people killed in Israeli strikes the day before.—
Wafaa Shurafa and Fatma Khaled,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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When Tai Shan was sent to China and separated from his parents, Nguyen was heartbroken.—
Christopher Cann,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
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Andrews appeared heartbroken after the loss, and video showed Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson consoling him.—
Doha Madani,
NBC News,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Listen to this article Loading your audio article As much of the U.S. endures the bitter cold, the MLB hot stove isn’t exactly offering much warmth.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
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On Wednesday, morning temperatures dipped into the single digits, with wind chills amplifying the bitter cold.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near plaintive
Cite this Entry
“Plaintive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaintive. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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