Synonyms of bemoan

bemoan

verb

bi-ˈmōn 

1

as in to mourn

to feel or express sorrow for

bemoaned the death of his wife by writing a series of poignant letters addressed to her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mourn
• lament
• regret
• bewail
• deplore
• wail (for)
• grieve (for)
• weep
• moan
• hurt
• suffer
• rue
• sob
• cry (for)
• sorrow
• keen
• elegize
• bawl
• agonize
• blubber
• bleed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joy
• glory (in)
• rejoice (in)
• delight
• laugh
• exult (in)
• cheer
• beam
• smile
• grin

2

as in to regret

to feel sorry or dissatisfied about

a think piece bemoaning the coarsening of our society over the last several decades

Synonyms & Similar Words

• regret
• lament
• repent
• rue
• deplore
• mourn
• sorrow (for)
• bewail
• grieve (for)
• ache (for)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enjoy
• relish
• delight (in)
• savor
• revel (in)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bemoan differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bemoan are bewail, deplore, and lament. While all these words mean "to express grief or sorrow for something," 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

When could deplore be used to replace bemoan?

While the synonyms deplore and bemoan are close in meaning, deplore implies regret for the loss or impairment of something of value.

deplores the breakdown in family values

When is lament a more appropriate choice than bemoan?

While in some cases nearly identical to bemoan, lament implies a profound or demonstrative expression of sorrow.

lamenting the loss of their only child

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bemoan

The formation of political parties was bemoaned by early American political leaders. —Richard Davis, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026

The backstory For anyone that has bemoaned the flattening of cultures everywhere, Fogo Island offers a beacon of hope. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026

Italo Calvino once bemoaned the weight of the biographical self, the reductiveness of facts. —Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026

The buildings had become a problem property for Boise State University, according to previous Statesman reporting, with students bemoaning floods, discolored water, mold and asbestos in apartments. —Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026