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
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Recent Examples of lamentation
One third of the way into Katie Kitamura’s 2017 novel, A Separation, its narrator asks an elderly Greek woman to demonstrate a traditional funeral lamentation.
—
Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
There have been lamentations about the end of an era and anxiety in the fan and creative communities about the risk of over-exploitation of the British super-spy.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
The van pulled into the street, and the crowd followed, muttering lamentations.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
This is a bleak model for those in lamentation over our current moment.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lamentation
Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
There have been lamentations about the end of an era and anxiety in the fan and creative communities about the risk of over-exploitation of the British super-spy.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
The van pulled into the street, and the crowd followed, muttering lamentations.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
This is a bleak model for those in lamentation over our current moment.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lamentation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lamentation
Noun
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After about seven minutes — and two more rounds of Narcan — the wail of sirens are finally heard.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
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The driving force at the center of almost all the show’s best numbers is Webb’s voice, which is a marvelous instrument for this music, equally capable of delivering touching tenderness or a velvety wail of triumphant transcendence.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Filatov declared Wednesday to be an official day of mourning.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 June 2025
-
Muharram, a sacred month of mourning for Shia Muslims, is believed to be around the corner.—
Chelsea Chan,
NBC news,
24 June 2025
Noun
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This is a lament for something that is out of reach, almost strange to the narrator.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2025
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Instead, Nick takes a seat next to Joseph and laments not listening to June, who told him so long ago to quit all this.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
Whatever happened to the political left’s cry that no one is above the law?—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
24 June 2025
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Domestic ducks and roof-nesting jackdaws head for the eaves and flap their wings, and the heron’s sharp cry trails off on the waves.—
Aratus,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
Noun
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But Barham plays the role both for plaints and for boasts.—
Jon Caramanica,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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Gay’s plaint is a variation of the good speakers are born belief.—
Jerry Weissman,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lamentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lamentation. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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