Complaintive - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Complaintive means expressing dissatisfaction or unhappiness, often in a whining or mournful tone. It describes someone who frequently complains or sounds sorrowful about their situation.
Definition:
Expressing sorrow or dissatisfaction in a whining or mournful manner.
Synonyms:
whining, mournful, plaintive, lamenting
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
cheerful, joyful
Common Collocations:
complaintive tone, complaintive voice, complaintive letter
Derivatives:
complain, complainant, complainingly
Usage Tips:
Use "complaintive" to describe a tone or voice that sounds sad or dissatisfied.
Common Phrases:
complaintive sigh, complaintive murmur, complaintive cry
Etymology:
Derived from "complain," with the suffix "-tive," indicating a tendency or quality.
Examples:
- 1. Her complaintive tone made everyone uncomfortable during the meeting.
- 2. The child’s complaintive whining annoyed the other passengers on the bus.
- 3. He wrote a complaintive letter about the poor service at the restaurant.
- 4. Her voice was soft but complaintive as she spoke about her troubles.