bemoan

verb

be·​moan bi-ˈmōn 

bē-

bemoaned; bemoaning; bemoans

transitive verb

1

: to express deep grief or distress over

bemoan the death of their leader

2

: to regard with displeasure, disapproval, or regret

bemoaning the lack of civility in modern political discourse

Synonyms of bemoan

• mourn
• lament
• regret

Choose the Right Synonym for bemoan

deplore, lament, bewail, bemoan mean to express grief or sorrow for something.

deplore implies regret for the loss or impairment of something of value.

deplores the breakdown in family values

lament implies a profound or demonstrative expression of sorrow.

lamenting the loss of their only child

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

Examples of bemoan in a Sentence

He bemoans the fact that the team lost again.

an article bemoaning the decline in voter turnout

Some critics are always bemoaning the state of the language.

Recent Examples on the Web

All of it flows toward a reconsideration of the legend of Baba Yaga herself, who bemoans her own malignment in raspy voiceovers that open and close each chapter. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026

That tradition began this season, and while Cignetti bemoaned the fact Indiana missed out on so many opportunities, the Hoosiers can take a message from the Spaniard's dominant six-season run. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Another bemoaned the amount of money spent on Marsh’s NIL deal, using similar obscene language. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

That tradition began this season, and while Cignetti bemoaned the fact Indiana missed out on so many opportunities, the Hoosiers can take a message from the Spaniard’s dominant six-season run. — Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bemoan

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone
• dethrone

Kids Definition

bemoan

verb

be·​moan bi-ˈmōn 

: to express grief over