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

Trump has bemoaned the pattern of ruling parties performing poorly in the midterm elections, which is seen as a referendum on the presidency. — Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Others questioned its content, bemoaning its failure to forefront local services, the World Service, and online offerings. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 July 2026

In the 2016 movie Jackie, which chronicles the immediate aftermath of JFK’s assassination, Bobby bemoans to Jackie that their legacy has been wasted with Jack’s death. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026

Even locals who bemoan increased traffic from Comic-Con see a benefit in the form of taxes that pay for everything from homeless programs to street repairs. — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 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