bemoan

verb

be·​moan bi-ˈmōn 

bē-

bemoaned; bemoaning; bemoans

transitive verb

1

: to express deep grief or distress over

bemoan the death of their leader

2

: to regard with displeasure, disapproval, or regret

bemoaning the lack of civility in modern political discourse

Synonyms

• bewail
• deplore
• grieve (for)
• lament
• mourn
• wail (for)

Choose the Right Synonym for bemoan

deplore, lament, bewail, bemoan 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

lament implies a profound or demonstrative expression of sorrow.

lamenting the loss of their only child

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

Examples of bemoan in a Sentence

He bemoans the fact that the team lost again.

an article bemoaning the decline in voter turnout

Some critics are always bemoaning the state of the language.

Recent Examples on the Web

If Trump loses, Republicans will bemoan his lack of discipline, selecting Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate and not employing Nikki Haley on the campaign trail. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

The government has announced a raft of measures aimed at boosting activity, including rate cuts and the easing of some home purchasing restrictions, but analysts have bemoaned the lack of detail so far. —Chris Morris, Fortune Asia, 5 Nov. 2024

After tech executives and investors bemoaned London’s IPO market structure, officials within the LSE, U.K. government and Financial Conduct Authority worked together to reform London’s listings rules and make the exchange a more attractive venue for high-growth tech firms. —Ryan Browne, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2024

Many people bemoan the change in daylight, complaining about feeling tired. —Kari Leibowitz, TIME, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bemoan

verb

be·​moan bi-ˈmōn 

: to express grief over