lamentable
adjective
la·men·ta·ble
lə-ˈmen-tə-bəl 
also
ˈla-mən-
1
: that is to be regretted or lamented : deplorable
the lamentable consequences of the war
2
: expressing grief : mournful
a faint and lamentable cry—
Walter de la Mare
Walter de la Mare
lamentableness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of lamentable in a Sentence
the lamentable cries of the women for their slain sons were heard throughout the village
it's a lamentable situation, but I don't see how it can be fixed
Recent Examples on the Web
Monday’s attack at 375 Washington St., which left the victim with a bruised left eye and cuts near both eyelids, as well as on his left hand, was the latest lamentable incident of youth violence in the area, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement.
—Tonya Alanez, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2023
And that’s about as much fun as most people will have at Disney’s third attempt at bringing the ride’s spooky charms to the screen after 2003’s lamentable Eddie Murphy starrer and 2021’s enjoyable Muppets Haunted Mansion streaming special.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2023
The history of Hollywood is, if nothing else, a 100 Years’ War between corporate interests and creative instincts, and that pitched battle, for all its lamentable casualties, has produced the most influential cultural economy on Earth.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023
This is one of the most lamentable legacies of twentieth-century liberalism.
—How To Save A Country, The New Republic, 20 Apr. 2023
Biden, in a statement on Tuesday, highlighted the effects of the issue Trump doesn’t want to talk about — the coronavirus pandemic — and said the way the president handled the crisis shows a lamentable pattern of ignoring scientists and other experts.
—Anthony Man, sun-sentinel.com, 8 Sep. 2020
His unwillingness to accept responsibility for public confusion on masks is lamentable and discredits his reputation as a leader.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Apr. 2023
The new law would need a Department of Justice committed to its enforcement; fortunately, Biden, who has a long history of supporting voting rights, could be expected to replace the lamentable William Barr with an Attorney General who is a strong advocate for democratic values.
—Jeffrey Toobin, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2020
Private sponsorship is not an entirely new idea, but the Biden Administration has good reasons, both compelling and lamentable, to promote the Welcome Corps now.
—Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2023
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Tonya Alanez, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2023
And that’s about as much fun as most people will have at Disney’s third attempt at bringing the ride’s spooky charms to the screen after 2003’s lamentable Eddie Murphy starrer and 2021’s enjoyable Muppets Haunted Mansion streaming special.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2023
The history of Hollywood is, if nothing else, a 100 Years’ War between corporate interests and creative instincts, and that pitched battle, for all its lamentable casualties, has produced the most influential cultural economy on Earth.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2023
This is one of the most lamentable legacies of twentieth-century liberalism.
—How To Save A Country, The New Republic, 20 Apr. 2023
Biden, in a statement on Tuesday, highlighted the effects of the issue Trump doesn’t want to talk about — the coronavirus pandemic — and said the way the president handled the crisis shows a lamentable pattern of ignoring scientists and other experts.
—Anthony Man, sun-sentinel.com, 8 Sep. 2020
His unwillingness to accept responsibility for public confusion on masks is lamentable and discredits his reputation as a leader.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Apr. 2023
The new law would need a Department of Justice committed to its enforcement; fortunately, Biden, who has a long history of supporting voting rights, could be expected to replace the lamentable William Barr with an Attorney General who is a strong advocate for democratic values.
—Jeffrey Toobin, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2020
Private sponsorship is not an entirely new idea, but the Biden Administration has good reasons, both compelling and lamentable, to promote the Welcome Corps now.
—Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lamentable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of lamentable was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near lamentable
Cite this Entry
“Lamentable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lamentable. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
lamentable
adjective
la·men·ta·ble
ˈlam-ən-tə-bəl
lə-ˈment-ə-
lə-ˈment-ə-
1
: that is to be regretted or lamented
lamentableness
noun
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