plaintive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tom Petty vowing not to back down sounds plaintive and aspirational.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

The English horn issued a plaintive, simple melody, as if trying to evoke older memories of a nearly forgotten time.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2025

As Rangers people run around with their hair on fire, those words appear more plaintive than ever.

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2024

I remember one particularly plaintive voice on the phone: “Steven, why are you lying to me? What have I done wrong?”

From Slate • Oct. 29, 2024

“Why are you asking him about the stores?” she interrogated me in Korean, her tongue plaintive, edgy, as though she were in some pain.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee