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

Knicks head coach Mike Brown bemoaned the officiating — a refrain shared by many of the team’s fans, including Mayor Mamdani. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026

This actually comes in the wake of a public schism between showrunner Ryan Condal and universe overlord George RR Martin, who has bemoaned significant changes to his original story. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

The pivot shows how Beijing’s centralized control lets the government overhaul its system in response to economic and technological shifts, whereas critics bemoan the West’s institutional inertia. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 30 June 2026

At the Applebutter Inn, a brick farmhouse that dates to 1844, the owner bemoaned that Canadian snowbirds, once a mainstay, had stopped visiting since the president threatened to send the Marines across Niagara Falls. — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026