plaintive

/'pleintiv/

Thân thiện

The musician played a plaintive melody on the violin.

Definition

Adjective: - Expressing sorrow or melancholy; having a mournful, sad, or wistful sound or quality.

Usage

The adjective "plaintive" is used to describe sounds, music, voices, cries, or expressions that convey a sense of sadness, longing, or gentle sorrow. It often implies a soft, mournful quality that evokes pity or sympathy.

Examples

• The plaintive cry of the loon echoed across the lake at dusk.
• She sang a plaintive folk song that moved the entire audience.
• In his letter, there was a plaintive tone, as if he missed home terribly.
• The plaintive melody of the violin filled the concert hall.

Advanced Usage

• "Plaintively" (Adverb): In a manner expressing sorrow or melancholy.
  • He sighed plaintively, wishing things were different.
• "Plaintiveness" (Noun): The quality of being plaintive.

Variants and Related Words

• Lamenting: Expressing grief or sorrow.
• Mournful: Feeling or expressing sorrow, often for someone's death.
• Melancholy: A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.
• Wistful: Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.

Synonyms

• Mournful
• Melancholy
• Sad
• Sorrowful
• Wailing
• Woeful

Antonyms

• Joyful
• Cheerful
• Happy
• Jubilant

Idioms and Phrases

• A plaintive note: A sad or mournful element within something (e.g., music, speech, writing).
  • His speech ended on a plaintive note, acknowledging the difficulties ahead.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. expressing sorrow

Từ đồng nghĩa

• mournful