deplore

verb

de·​plore di-ˈplȯr 

deplored; deploring

transitive verb

1

a

: to feel or express grief for

deplore the death of a friend

b

: to regret strongly

deplore my own actions

2

: to consider unfortunate or deserving of deprecation

many critics deplore his methods

deplorer

di-ˈplȯr-ər 

noun

deploringly

di-ˈplȯr-iŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for deplore

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 deplore in a Sentence

We deplore the development of nuclear weapons.

Many people deplored the change.

Although deplored by many, her decisions have greatly benefited the company.

Recent Examples on the Web

People will decide to read things that would be deplored by literary critics or anti-smut campaigners or religious clerics or card-carrying rationalists. —Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025

Much as Craven may deplore the emergence of large agencies that have taken over their competitors, companies like Allied Universal absorbed many of these fly-by-night outfits, requiring at least a modicum of training where there had been less. —Harper’s Magazine, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

Though deplored by liberals, such views represent a conservatism far more moderate than outright evasion or denials. —Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2022

For Nietzsche, this shift was almost entirely to be deplored. —Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French deplorer, from Latin deplorare, from de- + plorare to wail

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

deplore

verb

de·​plore di-ˈplō(ə)r 

-ˈplȯ(ə)r

deplored; deploring

1

a

: to feel or express grief for

b

: to regret strongly

2

: to consider unfortunate or deserving of disapproval

deplorer noun

deploringly

-iŋ-lē 

adverb