plaintive

[ pleyn-tiv ]

adjective

1. expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournful:

   a plaintive melody.

   Synonyms: sad, sorrowful, wistful

   Antonyms: joyful, happy

plaintive

/ ˈpleɪntɪv /

adjective

1. expressing melancholy; mournful

Derived Forms

• ˈplaintiveness, noun
• ˈplaintively, adverb

Other Words From

• plaintive·ly adverb
• plaintive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of plaintive¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; plaint + -ive; replacing Middle English plaintif, from Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of plaintive¹

C14: from Old French plaintif grieving, from plainte plaint

Example Sentences

As Rangers people run around with their hair on fire, those words appear more plaintive than ever.

From BBC

I remember one particularly plaintive voice on the phone: “Steven, why are you lying to me? What have I done wrong?”

From Slate

Thursday’s sold-out finale is a definitive retort to the plaintive cry among Oakland fans: Is there anyone that can stop this move?

From Los Angeles Times

Canadian singer-songwriter Jane Siberry co-wrote and recorded the plaintive closing ballad “It Can’t Rain All the Time,” titled after a line Draven says in the film.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the most plaintive refrains of the Y2K era was sung by Mark Hoppus of Blink-182: “Well, I guess this is growing up.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grief-stricken
• heartrending
• melancholy
• mournful
• sad
• sorrowful
• wistful