Synonyms of deplore

deplore

verb

di-ˈplȯr 

1

as in to mourn

to feel or express sorrow for

a statement from the bishops deploring the loss of life in the war overseas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in to regret

to feel sorry or dissatisfied about

deplored the fact that his guests were seeing his apartment at its messiest

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deplore differ from other similar words?

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

deplores the breakdown in family values

How are the words bewail and bemoan related as synonyms of deplore?

Both 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 lament a more appropriate choice than deplore?

The synonyms lament and deplore are sometimes interchangeable, but lament implies a profound or demonstrative expression of sorrow.

lamenting the loss of their only child

Examples of deplore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The United States increasingly deplored China’s repressive government. —Odd Arne Westad, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2024

What changed, at about the same time no-fault began, was that a couple of decades of legal and cultural shifts — which many conservatives deplore — began making life different, larger and better for married and unmarried women. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024

Shohei Ohtani would reject it and the Angels would never do it, not to mention the fans, who would absolutely deplore it. —Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024

Francis has repeatedly deplored the death and destruction in the Gaza war. —Alvise Armellini, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024