bemoan

verb

be·​moan bi-ˈmōn How to pronounce bemoan (audio)
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
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
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.
Heathrow expansion would be welcomed by many airlines, who have long bemoaned fierce competition and high costs for purchasing flight slots at the transport hub. Jenni Reid, CNBC, 26 Nov. 2024 Tavern-style pizza lovers bemoaned the loss of Bridgeport's Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream in 2022, but one of the creators is back with a new pizza spot in West Town called Pizz'Amici. Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024 Safety Adon Shuler bemoaned a handful of penalties postgame, perhaps missing the fact that the Irish defense removed any drama from the contest by the first quarter. Pete Sampson, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024 Though the film currently holds a 74% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with critics attributing much of the success to Washington, others bemoaned its vapid execution. Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bemoan 

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bemoan was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near bemoan

Cite this Entry

“Bemoan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bemoan. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

bemoan

verb
be·​moan bi-ˈmōn How to pronounce bemoan (audio)
: to express grief over

More from Merriam-Webster on bemoan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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