Plaintive
Plaintive adjective - Expressing or suggesting mourning.
Usage example: the puppy's plaintive expression after we put the toy away was rather amusing
Tearful and plaintive are semantically related in sorrowful topic. In some cases you can use "Tearful" instead an adjective "Plaintive".
Nearby Words: plaint, plaintively
Tearful
Tearful adjective - Given to expressing strong emotion (as sorrow) by readily shedding tears.
Usage example: a tearful woman who can be counted on to cry at every wedding, anniversary, and funeral
Plaintive and tearful are semantically related in sorrowful topic. Sometimes you can use "Plaintive" instead an adjective "Tearful".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Cite this Source
Tearful and Plaintive. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 03, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/plaintive/tearful
Plaintive & Tearful. N.p., 2016. Web. 03 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/plaintive/tearful>.
Tearful or Plaintive. 2016. Accessed August 03, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/plaintive/tearful.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "plaintive" and "tearful" have occurred on timeline