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Definition of lamentnext
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

Example 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
Kody reflected on his own divorces in a confessional, and lamented how messy the breakups became. Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026 In his opening monologue, Dokoupil lamented that his colleagues in the news business had leaned too much into the perspectives of subject matter experts. Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Some Evidence Is Better than Others A frequent lament in exercise science is that the studies are either small or poorly designed. Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 17 Nov. 2025 Some lament a directive for the lid to be completely closed at pickup time. Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 14 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lament
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lament
Verb
  • By evening, hundreds were there for a vigil to mourn the death and urge the public to resist immigration enforcers.
    Tim Sullivan, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
  • And as the university mourns Ward’s death, Self helped to put the win in perspective.
    Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Millions of Gen Zers are facing unemployment as entry-level office roles get absorbed by AI, and millennials are regretting taking out thousands in student loans for careers that now have significantly diminished prospects.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Whitfield never regretted making his intentions for a wife so public, but a few overzealous interactions had put him on guard.
    Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • With the band mostly back together, the Minnesota Wild made the goal horn wail enough for their seventh straight win on Saturday.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2025
  • The ear-splitting wails came from a little girl trying to get the star’s attention.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Swedish singer-composer Anna von Hausswolff, whose cathedral melodies, intense vocals and doom-laden dirges share much in common with Nordic heavy-metal culture, specializes in mystery and grandiosity.
    Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Thanksgiving can be delightful or draining, a festive feast or a dispiriting dirge.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • These are no longer the days of whine and turned-up noses.
    Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
  • Deciphering the vocalizations involves both sound and context, as a dog’s bark or whine may be tied to its situation, Zhu said.
    Miriam Fauzia, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The space was replete with the repetitive knocking of drumsticks, the undulating rhythm of Qur’anic prayers, and the gut-wrenching murmur of lamentation coming from That is not still (Sesuatu yang tidak berdiam), a 2024 video work about Indonesia’s diverse soundscape.
    Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
  • The language surrounding Bailey echoes sentiments from the 1990s and early 2000s, when public revelations of a celebrity’s homosexuality often triggered exaggerated lamentations from straight female fans.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • These books can be read as comedies of cognitive dissonance or as melancholy elegies for the very possibility of closure.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
  • Public Theater Else Went’s epic elegy to the great loves and losses of high school captured a certain moment — the precarious turn of the millennium — and a certain kind of teenage terror and heartache with precision and compassion.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Despite hearing her moan, Spees called in a level three resistance report but then continued escorting her toward his patrol vehicle.
    Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 18 Dec. 2025
  • Three hours later, only faint moans can be heard on the video footage when a jail guard opened the cell door again and summoned Ellis Jr. out to see the nurse.
    Austin Fast, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lament.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lament. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on lament

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