1. expressing sadness or melancholy; mournful

Examples

• The plaintive cry of the loon echoed across the lake.
• She sang a plaintive melody that brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
• The dog’s plaintive whining could be heard from the next room.
• His plaintive voice revealed the depth of his loneliness.
• The violin’s plaintive notes filled the concert hall with emotion.
• A plaintive wind whistled through the abandoned house.