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Plaintive vs Piteous - What's the difference?

plaintive | piteous | Synonyms |

Plaintive is a synonym of piteous.


As adjectives the difference between plaintive and piteous

is that plaintive is sounding sorrowful, mournful or melancholic while piteous is pitiful; evincing pity, compassion, or sympathy.

plaintive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Sounding sorrowful, mournful or melancholic.
  • piteous

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • pitiful; evincing pity, compassion, or sympathy.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The most piteous tale of Lear.
  • (obsolete) pious; devout
  • * Wyclif
  • The Lord can deliver piteous men from temptation.
  • (obsolete) compassionate; tender
  • * Alexander Pope
  • [She was] piteous of his case.
  • (obsolete) paltry; mean; pitiful
  • (Milton)

    Synonyms

    * pathetic

    Derived terms

    * piteously