1
as in lamentation
a crying out in grief
the day after the massacre the plaints of bereaved mothers and wives could be heard throughout the village
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complaint
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
that taxes are too high is perhaps the most perennial of plaints
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of plaint
This wry, lovelorn plaint is a cagey display of subtle dynamics and counterpoint on a lone electric guitar.
—
Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
And to be perfectly fair, the New Deal had seven or eight big years of operation (the plaints about the Supreme Court etc. blocking reforms being so many excuses).
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Goldberger's plaint is overstated.
—Michelle Goldberg, Star Tribune, 8 June 2021
The finished song is desolate but resilient, a hell of a plaint.
—Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2022
Somewhere between folk-rock plaint and short story, Margo Price sings about a pregnant woman at a clinic, with a hard-luck past and a tough decision to make.
—Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2022
The company said the decision to close came after the plaint failed to secure any capacity revenues in the latest auction held in May by the grid operator, PJM.
—Chris Mayhew, The Enquirer, 22 July 2021
These points are not the most cynical aspect of McConnell’s plaint, however.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2020
Among other things, this culture war plaint was a brazen gambit for a rich kid whose start-to-finish private education cost $500,000.
—Alexander Zaitchik, The New Republic, 25 July 2019
Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
And to be perfectly fair, the New Deal had seven or eight big years of operation (the plaints about the Supreme Court etc. blocking reforms being so many excuses).
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Goldberger's plaint is overstated.
—Michelle Goldberg, Star Tribune, 8 June 2021
The finished song is desolate but resilient, a hell of a plaint.
—Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2022
Somewhere between folk-rock plaint and short story, Margo Price sings about a pregnant woman at a clinic, with a hard-luck past and a tough decision to make.
—Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2022
The company said the decision to close came after the plaint failed to secure any capacity revenues in the latest auction held in May by the grid operator, PJM.
—Chris Mayhew, The Enquirer, 22 July 2021
These points are not the most cynical aspect of McConnell’s plaint, however.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2020
Among other things, this culture war plaint was a brazen gambit for a rich kid whose start-to-finish private education cost $500,000.
—Alexander Zaitchik, The New Republic, 25 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plaint
Noun
-
The van pulled into the street, and the crowd followed, muttering lamentations.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
-
This is a bleak model for those in lamentation over our current moment.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The complaint centered specifically on Danielson’s comments during a press conference following Boise State’s season-ending loss in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Feb. 2025
-
The complaint names Trump, the U.S. State Department, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as defendants.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Those harsh, swelling wails of warning become the film’s punctuating sonic motif — in stark contrast to the buoyant, babbling vocal interjections of Alexey Shmurak’s unexpected a cappella score, a literal chorus of humanity amid the chaos.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
-
Peart also became the band’s primary lyricist, and Lee delivering Peart’s dense and philosophical lyrics with a high, piercing wail became a defining characteristic of Rush’s sound.—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Fritz revved the engine, a desperate, needling whine, and the vessel lurched down the airstrip, the chute billowing awake behind him.—
Nick Paumgarten,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Families fall asleep to the thump of nearby airstrikes and the constant whine of an Israeli drone overhead.—
Raf Sanchez,
NBC News,
25 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The bill also allows for a student or parent to file a grievance if a college isn’t following the law.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2025
-
While still rare, players more frequently file grievances to dispute their positional designation for the tag itself.—
Mark Puleo,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The phrase became a MAGA rally cry and, in February 2025, it has been stamped on CPAC attendees’ shirts and jackets.—
Alex Hinton,
The Conversation,
21 Feb. 2025
-
For example, pain cries are often loud, high-pitched and harsh to grab the attention of listeners and elicit aid.—
Katarzyna Pisanski,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
For example, many in the MAHA movement lament how the United States permits scores of pesticides and consumer product additives that are banned in Europe.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Strickland’s lament racked up 159,000 likes and 13.2 million views.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
How Did Social Media React To Gene Hackman’s Passing? The response online has been one of collective grief and mourning.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Here, mourning is not just an individual act but a communal experience.—
Mathew Holloway,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plaint. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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