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.
Mumford & Sons led the 2010s folk revival that minted a generation of plaintive, earnest singer-songwriter acts atop the charts.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026
Tom Petty vowing not to back down sounds plaintive and aspirational.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025
The resulting lush and exotic soundscape, featuring plaintive pan flute and sprinkled with birdsong, turned out to be perfect for the game’s spooktastic forest levels.
From New York Times • Nov. 19, 2024
As Rangers people run around with their hair on fire, those words appear more plaintive than ever.
From BBC • Nov. 1, 2024
At the final round, the applause from the American audience appeared to be sincere and respectful, but privately, a plaintive cry went up among many of the chess players: “What’s wrong with American chess?”
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Vocabulary lists containing plaintive
Grade 11, List 1
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Things Fall Apart
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Night
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