lament 1 of 2

1
2
as in to regret
to feel sorry or dissatisfied about the youth lamented not having spent more time with his late grandfather

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lament

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lament differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lament are bemoan, bewail, and deplore. While all these words mean "to express grief or sorrow for something," lament implies a profound or demonstrative expression of sorrow.

lamenting the loss of their only child

How do bewail and bemoan relate to one another, in the sense of lament?

Both bewail and bemoan imply sorrow, disappointment, or protest finding outlet in words or cries, bewail commonly suggesting loudness, and bemoan lugubriousness.

fans bewailed the defeat
purists bemoaning the corruption of the language

When is it sensible to use deplore instead of lament?

The words deplore and lament are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deplore implies regret for the loss or impairment of something of value.

deplores the breakdown in family values

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lament
Verb
Watch on Hulu Shōgun Game of Thrones fans still lamenting the loss of one of television's great epics have found their new favorite binge-watch in Shōgun, which just took home a record 18 Emmys (with 25 nods altogether). Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024 The trend has gotten so widespread that teachers have taken to TikTok to lament the prevalence of Diddy jokes in the classroom. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
The themes of Game 2 were laments about pitches gone awry for a No. 2 starter and the appreciation of Perez, who stuck around and was willing to wait through a rebuild for another chance at hitting postseason homers. Larry Fleisher, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 For the longest time the lament has been about un-banked segments of the population, and the need for financial institutions to spread their services across greater numbers, but for the problem of price controls. John Tamny, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lament 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lament
Verb
  • Philadelphia Eagles icon Brandon Graham suffered what looked like a season-ending injury in the last minutes of Sunday's 37-20 win victory over the Los Angeles Rams, and fans are already mourning what may be the final moments of the defensive end's long career.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
  • While leaders remain indifferent, the people endure: patching what’s broken, mourning what’s lost, and bracing for what’s next.
    Sarah Al Asmar, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Relying on others to do things for you will lead to regret and faulty results.
    Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Most, if not all, women will have experienced some version of the laddish banter on Graham Norton's show, and many will have regretted not finding quite the right words at the right time to make Ronan's point.
    The Week UK, theweek, 9 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Over the wail of the train’s brakes, a guitarist burst into song, his voice clear and mellow.
    Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024
  • Everything is quiet except the torturous, repetitive wail of the caller.
    Britta Lokting, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • The hand drums, played here by Keith, make this one spooky dirge.
    Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2024
  • Following long minutes of silence, a dirge of bagpipes began streaming from the church, suddenly growing loud as 10 pipers emerged with a corps of drummers behind, playing on as pallbearers rolled the casket out.
    Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 28 June 2024
Noun
  • Reports of this plan were toasted by professional cynics with a similar whine.
    Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2024
  • Mamet is the series’ comic highlight, ping-ponging between tantrums, whines and sickly-sweet pleas with the volatility of an overgrown toddler; Jackson’s Misia receives these outbursts with an obeisance that is eventually pushed to the point of breaking.
    Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2024
Noun
  • No such resourcefulness is evident in Tesori’s score, which wavers between mid-century film-music heroics and sentimental lamentations, with tame avant-garde gestures popping up here and there.
    Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
  • There's been endless chatter and discussion and debate and lamentation around it.
    Kate Bernot, Bon Appétit, 23 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • Working with longtime collaborators John Collins and Nicolas Bragg, the funk-rock elegies and New Romantic jaunts turn brittle and deliberate.
    Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024
  • And then on March 29, Swift published an elegy for Partridge.
    Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
  • And this is coming from the guy who always bitches, moans, and complains when players share news of their idols and advantages!
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
  • That overrides the crowd reaction to many on-pitch incidents — there are fewer audible moans when a foul is committed, fewer jeers when there’s an opposition shot way off target, and sometimes less of a silence when a goal is conceded.
    Michael Cox, The Athletic, 28 Aug. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near lament

Cite this Entry

“Lament.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lament. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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