plaintively
plaintively — adverb
1. if someone speaks, sings, or cries plaintively, their voice sounds unhappy and a
if someone speaks, sings, or cries plaintively, their voice sounds unhappy and a little weak, as if asking for sympathy or help.
The lost puppy whined plaintively at the back door until Caleb let it inside.
describes an animal's sad, pleading sound
"Why can't you stay one more day?" Saira asked plaintively as the train arrived.
plaintively + speech verb for a sad, pleading question
A single violin played plaintively while the rain fell over the empty market square.
The old man called plaintively for his cat, who had not come home in days.
From the next room, a baby cried plaintively for its mother in the dark.
- mournfully
stronger, deeper grief; less of a pleading tone
- sorrowfully
broad sadness, without the complaining edge
- wistfully
gentle longing for something lost, less of a cry for help
- cheerfully
in a bright, happy manner
用法筆記
Almost always describes how a sound is made — pairs with verbs like say, ask, cry, sing, call, whine, and play. It carries a hint of complaint or pleading, so it is stronger than simply "sadly."