alas

interjection

ə-ˈlas How to pronounce alas (audio)
Definition of alasnext
as in boo
used to express sorrow or distress Juliet's pitiful lament, "alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead!"

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of alas With the wedding canceled, Enola attempts to juggle her investigations with easing Tewkesbury’s believably bruised heart, but alas, things just don’t slow down. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 June 2026 The lower, historic floors of the hotel house elegant rooms (with limited views and non-opening windows, alas), an Jiva Spa, and a fitness center with an indoor lap pool (the hotel’s sole pool). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026 Like the catchphrase to the Wide World of Sports broadcast that first enthralled Hunt with the World Cup, this was the essence of the thrill of victory contrasting, alas, with the agony of defeat. — Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026 But alas, despite Woods' best efforts to curb the guideline by creating an orange heel that cleverly incorporated the bag into the design (called the Stunt Sandal in Limited Edition Summer Citrus), the Knicks fell 115-111 to the Spurs. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for alas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alas
aw
Interjection
  • The girls, who have been aw-ing at Aniya’s love story with Carl, tell the boys to sit down.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • In the north of the British Isles, people sometimes combined ye, a second person plural pronoun for you, along with aw, meaning all.
    — Bill Chappell, NPR, 16 July 2025
Definition of aw

Browse Nearby Words

alarums and excursions
alas
albatross
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Cite this Entry

“Alas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alas. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on alas

Nglish: Translation of alas for Spanish Speakers

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