“Antonyms of plaintively” refers to words that are opposite in meaning to “plaintively”.
“Plaintively” means in a mournful, sad, or pleading way. For example, “She sang plaintively, her voice full of sorrow.”
An antonym for “plaintively” could be “cheerfully”. When someone does something cheerfully, they are in a happy, lively, and positive mood. For instance, “He whistled cheerfully, in stark contrast to her plaintive singing.” While plaintively expresses sadness and longing, cheerfully conveys joy and optimism.
Another antonym might be “confidently”. Acting confidently means having a sense of self-assurance and boldness. For example, “She spoke confidently, without the plaintive tone she had used before.” Confidence is the opposite of the vulnerability and sadness associated with plaintively.
“energetically” is also an antonym. When people act energetically, they are full of vigor and enthusiasm. For example, “They danced energetically, not at all like the plaintive movements of someone in despair.” Energetically shows a high level of activity and excitement, which is the opposite of the subdued quality of plaintively.
In conclusion, words like cheerfully, confidently, and energetically are antonyms of “plaintively” as they represent different emotional states and behaviors that are the opposite of mournful and pleading.