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alas

interjection

ə-ˈlas How to pronounce alas (audio)
Definition of alasnext
as in boo
used to express sorrow or distress Juliet's pitiful lament, "alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 alas But alas, not even global technology superpowers are safe from the RAM shortage. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026 These, alas, were hard to spot, the exception being a gentleman whose torso, richly tattooed, was encased in a transparent cuirass. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 But, alas, there are no other young male seals in the residential streets of Hobart to practice chest-puffing and sparring with. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 July 2026 There were, alas, many more contenders for the latter than the former. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for alas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alas
  1. boo
  2. aw
Interjection
  • Williams also recalled witnessing the Super Bowl crowd boo Taylor Swift when she was shown on the jumbotron cheering on her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce.
    — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Highlights include a costume parade (for kids and parents), a Purim story and boo Haman and songs.
    — Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024
Definition of boo
Interjection
  • The girls, who have been aw-ing at Aniya’s love story with Carl, tell the boys to sit down.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • In the north of the British Isles, people sometimes combined ye, a second person plural pronoun for you, along with aw, meaning all.
    — Bill Chappell, NPR, 16 July 2025
Definition of aw

Browse Nearby Words

alarums and excursions
alas
albatross
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alas. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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