plaintive

adjective

plain·tive ˈplān-tiv

: expressive of suffering or woe : melancholy

a plaintive sigh

plaintively adverb

plaintiveness noun

Did you know?

Like its relative plangent, plaintive is often used to describe sad sounds. "A plaintive wail," for example, is a common use. Plaintive and plangent (along with relatives plaintiff and complain) ultimately derive from the Latin verb plangere, meaning "to strike," "to beat one's breast," or "to lament." This Latin verb led to plaint, an Anglo-French word (and now also an English word) meaning "lamentation." Plaint is the root of Middle English plaintif (meaning "lamenting" or "complaining"), which gave rise to plaintive as well as the noun plaintiff.

Example Sentences

We could hear the plaintive cry of a wounded animal in the woods. the puppy's plaintive expression after we put the toy away was rather amusing

Recent Examples on the Web Weaving around the snares, kicks, and low, grinding bass line, the whale sounds mournful, almost plaintive, and never strays far from the center of attention.

Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2022 This plaintive cry is not new, at least to anyone who has paid attention to Jewish debate in the last decade or more.

Jane Eisner, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2022 Femi Temowo’s blues underscoring is a welcome addition, landing on the ears as richly evocative of New York in the 1950s and supplying a plaintive embroidery to the overarching sadness of the proceedings.

Peter Marks, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2022 There’s something so matter-of-fact yet plaintive about his records, and that combination is incredibly compelling.

Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2022 An early breakthrough came from listening to a traditional singer of the Serer people, whose plaintive melody reminded Catta of a Renaissance motet.

Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 Meanwhile, Ettore — as winningly played by Maltese, the most rounded and changeable character here — largely recedes from view, until a heartrending scene of plaintive, embittered testimony.

Guy Lodge, Variety, 6 Sep. 2022 Taken as a whole, the messages reflect a plaintive cry from beleaguered riders who merely want a reliable transit system, one in which buses and trains show up when they are supposed to without breaking down or catching fire.

Shirley Leung, BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2022 Just like those plaintive messages that have to travel great distances and pass through impassable barriers, thoughts and ideas get garbled through transmission.

Jessica Kiang, Variety, 9 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plaintive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.