bemoan

verb

be·​moan bi-ˈmōn How to pronounce bemoan (audio)
bē-
bemoaned; bemoaning; bemoans
Synonyms of bemoan

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 of bemoan

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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
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.
Lord knows how many years of a college football fan’s life have been spent bemoaning whatever system was in place that year to determine the national champion. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 23 June 2026 In May 1972, Saijo sent a copy of the book to Snyder, bemoaning the editors’ heavy hand. — Literary Hub, 29 June 2026 Maher opened the conversation by thanking Vance for coming on the show and bemoaning that Democratic politicians won't do so. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 28 June 2026 This was after central Europeans were already loudly bemoaning the advance of muskrats into the vast Danube watershed. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bemoan

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of bemoan was before the 12th century

Rhymes for bemoan

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Browse Nearby Words

bemist
bemoan
bemoaningly
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Cite this Entry

“Bemoan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bemoan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bemoan

verb
be·​moan bi-ˈmōn How to pronounce bemoan (audio)
: to express grief over

More from Merriam-Webster on bemoan

Nglish: Translation of bemoan for Spanish Speakers

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