# plaintively

**Pronunciation:** ˈpleɪn.tɪv.li · PLAYN-tiv-lee

**Part of speech:** adverb

## 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.
- He asked plaintively, "Why does this always happen to me?"

## Synonyms

- sadly — General sadness.
- mournfully — Expressing deep grief or sorrow.
- wistfully — With a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
- melancholily — In a way that suggests deep, pensive sadness.

## Antonyms

- cheerfully — In a happy and optimistic way.
- joyfully — With great happiness and delight.
- exultantly — In a triumphant and joyful manner.

## Common patterns

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

## Collocations

- sing plaintively — The singer's voice trembled as she sang the ballad plaintively.
- ask plaintively — The child looked up at his mother and asked plaintively, "Are we there yet?"
- sound plaintively — The lonely foghorn sounded plaintively across the water.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/plaintively

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