lamentable

adjective

la·​men·​ta·​ble lə-ˈmen-tə-bəl How to pronounce lamentable (audio)
also
ˈla-mən- How to pronounce lamentable (audio)
1
: that is to be regretted or lamented : deplorable
the lamentable consequences of the war
2
: expressing grief : mournful
a faint and lamentable cryWalter de la Mare
lamentableness noun
lamentably adverb

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
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.
Rooks deftly sketches this lamentable, sobering history. Justin Driver, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2025 Goldberg would appear in several popular movies — Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Sister Act franchise, and, in an Oscar-winning role, the lamentable Ghost. Armond White, National Review, 7 Mar. 2025 That would be all the more lamentable because the United States has an opportunity to steer events in a much more positive direction—exerting pressure on Russia to end the war and to secure a fair settlement that protects Ukraine’s long-term security. Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025 No one would expect such lamentable defending from a Premier League side. Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for lamentable

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lamentable was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lamentable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lamentable. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

lamentable

adjective
la·​men·​ta·​ble ˈlam-ən-tə-bəl How to pronounce lamentable (audio) lə-ˈment-ə- How to pronounce lamentable (audio)
1
: that is to be regretted or lamented
2
lamentableness noun
lamentably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on lamentable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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