as in to mourn
to feel or express sorrow for
he invariably spends more time bewailing his predicament than trying to fix it
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Recent Examples of bewail
Israel has bewailed each nation’s announcement, claiming that their gesture is only emboldening Hamas and prolonging the war by showing there are benefits to be gained through terrorism like that carried out on Oct. 7.
—
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2025
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
Among progressives, the same people who bewail the influence of corporations on cultural and political life also propose to entrench the social role of big businesses by making individual Americans more dependent on them for everything from health care to retirement income.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 13 May 2021
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
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2025
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
Among progressives, the same people who bewail the influence of corporations on cultural and political life also propose to entrench the social role of big businesses by making individual Americans more dependent on them for everything from health care to retirement income.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 13 May 2021
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bewail
Verb
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Many lawmakers, conservative and liberal alike, mourned him and the incident of political violence.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
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Tahlequah previously made global headlines in 2018 for carrying a dead calf for over 1,000 miles across 17 days, demonstrating what researchers believe is mourning behavior among orcas.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images What To Know On September 13, Invita, which, according to its website, has two California locations, one in Rancho Santa Fe and the other in Carlsbad, posted pictures and messages on social media lamenting Kirk's murder.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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Trabuco coach Mark Nolan lamented a penalty that wiped out an interception that preceded Romo’s score, calling it the turning point in the game.—
Martin Henderson,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bewail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bewail. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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