Synonyms of bewail

bewail

verb

bi-ˈwāl 

as in to mourn

to feel or express sorrow for

he invariably spends more time bewailing his predicament than trying to fix it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bewail differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bewail are bemoan, 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 is it sensible to use deplore instead of bewail?

The words deplore and bewail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deplore implies regret for the loss or impairment of something of value.

deplores the breakdown in family values

When could lament be used to replace bewail?

Although the words lament and bewail have much in common, lament implies a profound or demonstrative expression of sorrow.

lamenting the loss of their only child

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bewail

The grandmother would flee, and Billy would smite his chest and in Old Testament tones bewail his sinful life. — Werner Herzog, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023

Now Gove’s remark became the source of the ashen taste in the mouths of Remoaner metropolitan elites bewailing how provincial troglodytes, geriatrics, and Little Englanders had dashed their rationalist, internationalist dreams. — Kyle Smith, National Review, 8 Apr. 2020

Trump’s critics bewailed the outcome as a defeat and a betrayal of our Kurdish allies. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2019

Understandably, promoters and artist representatives have long bewailed the enormous profits being made on the secondary market, which takes none of the risk and puts up none of the funding — and shares none of its profits — for major live events. — Variety, The Mercury News, 24 July 2019

Across the country, North and South, Christians gathered in their churches to remember the crucifixion of Christ and to bewail their sins, which made such a sacrifice necessary. — Jonathan Den Hartog, WSJ, 26 Apr. 2018