But that sounded weak and plaintive in his ears.

She sounded cheerful at the outset but increasingly plaintive as the day wore on.

Her voice sounded plaintive and childish in her ears.

His voice sounded plaintive and weak to his own ears.

The voice sounded small and plaintive, almost a whisper.

In it Nick sounded plaintive and excited, the words underscored heavily to emphasize their importance.

Somehow the boy sounded plaintive and imperious, all at the same time.

"I used to like being a lone operative," she said, sounding oddly plaintive.

The bent old trapper's voice sounded a trifle plaintive.

It sounds slightly plaintive or restrained, like when you moan because of a stomach ache.