as in wail
a crying out in grief
there was a great lamentation on Wall Street when the government's latest unemployment figures were published
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 lamentation
For those of us in the trenches of X, the meltdown was a familiar sight, echoing the contempt that the tech elite have directed at San Francisco for years, with the endless lamentations of anarchy at pharmacy branches in Union Square or the liberal policies of politicians like Aaron Peskin.
—
Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Their music is neither celebration nor lamentation.
—Amir Husain, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Give us your final lamentations on this year’s crop of cancellations in a comment below.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 21 May 2025
Studio Nicholas Venezia In Janáček’s Quartet No. 1, the Takács ratcheted up the genre’s conversational quality into high drama, widening the expressive gulf between the opening lamentation and the skittering response.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lamentation
Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Their music is neither celebration nor lamentation.
—Amir Husain, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Give us your final lamentations on this year’s crop of cancellations in a comment below.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 21 May 2025
Studio Nicholas Venezia In Janáček’s Quartet No. 1, the Takács ratcheted up the genre’s conversational quality into high drama, widening the expressive gulf between the opening lamentation and the skittering response.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lamentation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lamentation
Noun
-
At times, the noise of grinding gears can obscure the soprano whoops and wails of the preschoolers.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Telecasters and hollow-body guitars wail cover songs on Beale Street.—
Joe Sills,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In 2022, Japanese researchers found that dogs produced tears when reuniting with their humans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Blum looked around, stunned with tears welling in her eyes.—
Aaron Sullivan,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One year after deadly wildfires reshaped the region and tested the resilience of entire communities, Los Angeles gathered not in mourning, but in unity.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The familiar rhythms of Jewish mourning—burial, shivah, prayer, and remembrance—help families begin the healing process with structure, support, and community.—
Rabbi Moishe Kievman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
My Ghost Go Ghost peaks with its final act, when the duo frames its experience as something to appreciate, not only lament.—
Benny Sun,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But the anti-fascist lament has a dark secret history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Seeing Sparkle cry about Landfair’s experience — something that Landfair hadn’t fully come to terms with — was discombobulating and infuriating.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
-
No wonder then, when substitute Mia Enderby met Jenna Clark’s cross perfectly in the 92nd minute, putting Liverpool 1-0 up, the cries of celebration spilled out before the ball had officially crossed the goal line.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Yamagami’s sister’s testimony was, as measured by the number of weeping observers, the emotional apex of the trial.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Just stand at the head of the casket, weeping, and say, ‘Ah, Tamma.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The speech was met by deafening cheers, and a tiny smattering of groans from people on the other side of the political spectrum.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Those decisions were largely met with groans from fans.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Spread over him and shoved him forward, and he was woken by a screech and a howl.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The Wolf Moon name dates back to Indigenous and early Anglo-Saxon traditions, inspired by the winter wolves whose howls echoed across cold January nights.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lamentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lamentation. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
