as in wail
a crying out in grief
there was a great lamentation on Wall Street when the government's latest unemployment figures were published
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lamentation
The album’s Bandcamp blurb shouts out Ghédalia Tarzatès, the late French composer who collaged his wails and lamentations in the endangered Ladino language to evoke pangs of existential angst.
—
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
The ghetto is full of lamentation.
—Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
The space was replete with the repetitive knocking of drumsticks, the undulating rhythm of Qur’anic prayers, and the gut-wrenching murmur of lamentation coming from That is not still (Sesuatu yang tidak berdiam), a 2024 video work about Indonesia’s diverse soundscape.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
The language surrounding Bailey echoes sentiments from the 1990s and early 2000s, when public revelations of a celebrity’s homosexuality often triggered exaggerated lamentations from straight female fans.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lamentation
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
The ghetto is full of lamentation.
—Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026
The space was replete with the repetitive knocking of drumsticks, the undulating rhythm of Qur’anic prayers, and the gut-wrenching murmur of lamentation coming from That is not still (Sesuatu yang tidak berdiam), a 2024 video work about Indonesia’s diverse soundscape.
—Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
The language surrounding Bailey echoes sentiments from the 1990s and early 2000s, when public revelations of a celebrity’s homosexuality often triggered exaggerated lamentations from straight female fans.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lamentation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lamentation
Noun
-
Three species of bats inhabit the site, and supernatural events—including the appearance of the gamekeeper’s ghost and the wail of a banshee—have been reported.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
-
The wail of fire trucks can be heard as passersby stopped to record the scene.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria and said after that match his tears came following some tough days not related to soccer.—
Stephen Hawkins,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
-
Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria, and said after that match his tears came following some tough days not related to soccer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
The period of mourning was profound and continued long after Germany’s Philipp Lahm had hoisted the World Cup aloft in the Maracana five days later.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
-
Community mourns two students Nair and Sran, who both graduated from Washington High School in Fremont before attending college, leave behind a community in mourning, Salwan said.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
His one big lament was missing a 4-foot birdie putt on the final hole.—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
This week, Tyla gets in her feelings, Tierra Whack spits bars on a spritely beat, and Kelela slows it down on a lover’s lament that dates back to her debut album.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The little one’s first cries somehow complete the circle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 June 2026
-
The soundtrack of sneaker squeaks, rallying cries, and bouncing basketballs found visual complement in the crayon box of jerseys coloring the city in various shades of hometown pride.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Some modern varieties have gold or reddish leaves or a weeping form.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
-
The other thing that was really interesting is this weeping sickness that Sugi described in the beginning.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Young climbed into a box, which Strange then stabbed repeatedly, prompting groans from the audience.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 June 2026
-
Still, the night had enough laughs, groans and tender moments to keep things interesting.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Her presence is heralded not by the sounds of howls, roars or clanking chains, but by the shutting of the door to her study, the scrape of her chair as it is pulled towards her desk, and the clanking of her type-writer keys.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lamentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lamentation. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
