complaintive

Thân thiện

The employee gave a complaintive sigh during the long meeting.

Definition

Adjective: * Expressing pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment; having the nature of or characterized by complaint.

Usage

The word "complaintive" is a formal adjective used to describe a person, their tone, manner, or words that habitually express discontent, grievance, or unhappiness. It is synonymous with "complaining."

Examples

• She wrote a long, complaintive letter to the manager about the poor service.
• His voice took on a complaintive tone whenever he discussed his workload.
• We grew tired of his constantly complaintive attitude.

Advanced Usage

• Literary/Descriptive Use: Often found in literary or more formal descriptive writing to characterize a person's demeanor or the quality of a sound (e.g., a moan, a sigh).
  • The complaintive cry of the seagulls echoed over the empty pier.

Variants and Related Words

• Complain (verb): To express dissatisfaction or annoyance.
• Complaint (noun): A statement that something is unsatisfactory or unacceptable.
• Complainingly (adverb): In a complaining manner. (Note: This is rarer than "complaintive.")

Synonyms

• Grumbling
• Whining
• Protesting
• Fault-finding
• Querulous
• Mournful (when expressing sorrow or pain)

Antonyms

• Complimentary
• Praising
• Contented
• Satisfied
• Appreciative

Học thuật

Adjective

1. expressing pain or dissatisfaction of resentment
   • a complaining boss

Từ đồng nghĩa

• complaining