plaintively

Meaning

In a way that expresses sadness or sorrow, often in a drawn-out or mournful manner.

Examples

• She sang the old folk song plaintively, her voice cracking with emotion.
• The owl hooted plaintively in the distance, a lonely sound in the night.

Pronunciation: ˈpleɪn.tɪv.li

How to Use plaintively

plaintively + verb (collocation)

Describes how an action is performed with sadness or sorrow. — "The music played plaintively, filling the room with a sense of loss."

Synonyms of plaintively

Words with a similar meaning to plaintively:

• sadly
• mournfully
• wistfully
• melancholily

Antonyms of plaintively

Words with the opposite meaning to plaintively:

• cheerfully
• joyfully
• exultantly