lamentable

adjective

la·​men·​ta·​ble lə-ˈmen-tə-bəl 

also

ˈla-mən- 

1

: that is to be regretted or lamented : deplorable

the lamentable consequences of the war

2

: expressing grief : mournful

a faint and lamentable cry

—Walter de la Mare

lamentableness noun

lamentably

lə-ˈmen-tə-blē 

also

ˈla-mən- 

adverb

Synonyms

• aching
• agonized
• anguished
• bemoaning
• bewailing
• bitter
• deploring
• doleful
• dolesome
• dolorous
• funeral
• grieving
• heartbroken
• lugubrious
• mournful
• plaintive
• plangent
• regretful
• rueful
• sorrowful
• sorry
• wailing
• weeping
• woeful

Examples of lamentable in a Sentence

the lamentable cries of the women for their slain sons were heard throughout the village

it's a lamentable situation, but I don't see how it can be fixed

Recent Examples on the Web

But there’s also 6 Souls, a lamentable 2013 horror movie starring Julianne Moore, in which the hollers hold real witches and their powerful curses reach far beyond the hills. —Sarah Jones, Vulture, 15 July 2024

Obama should support Modi’s efforts to push the Sri Lankan government on its lamentable human rights situation, guard against Islamic extremism in Bangladesh, and promote greater political stability in Nepal. —Nicholas Burns, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2014

The Peshmerga had a lamentable lack of heavy weapons at its disposal to defend its region against ISIS and eventually roll back much of the group’s enormous territorial conquests. —Paul Iddon, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Make no mistake, the failure to control the border, and the stress on local communities forced to cope with a disorderly influx of people, is lamentable and needs to be fixed. —Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lamentable

adjective

la·​men·​ta·​ble ˈlam-ən-tə-bəl  lə-ˈment-ə- 

1

: that is to be regretted or lamented

2

: sorrowful sense 2

lamentableness noun

lamentably

-blē 

adverb