plaintive

adjective
UK: /ˈpleɪntɪv/
US: /ˈpleɪntɪv/

  1. Expressing sorrow or sadness in a way that sounds slightly sad.

    1. The bird sang a plaintive song.
    2. A plaintive cry echoed through the empty house, a testament to its abandonment.

  2. Sounding sad and mournful.

    1. Her voice was plaintive and weak.
    2. The plaintive melody of the violin filled the concert hall, evoking a sense of longing.

Synonyms

sad melancholy sorrowful wistful mournful

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "plaintive" in English means: Expressing sorrow or sadness in a way that sounds slightly sad., Sounding sad and mournful..

The phonetic transcription of "plaintive" is /ˈpleɪntɪv/ in British English and /ˈpleɪntɪv/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "plaintive": sad, melancholy, sorrowful, wistful, mournful.

Example usage of "plaintive": "The bird sang a plaintive song.". More examples on the page.