DEPLORE Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'deplore' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deplore are bemoan , bewail , and lament . While all these words 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

Q: How are the words 'bewail' and 'bemoan' related as synonyms of 'deplore'?

Both 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

Q: When is 'lament' a more appropriate choice than 'deplore'?

The synonyms lament and deplore are sometimes interchangeable, but lament implies a profound or demonstrative expression of sorrow. // lamenting the loss of their only child

deplore

verb

di-ˈplȯr

Definition of deplore

as in to criticize

to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of Many residents spoke at the budget meeting to deplore the mayor's proposed cuts to the police force.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to mourn

to feel or express sorrow for a statement from the bishops deploring the loss of life in the war overseas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to regret

to feel sorry or dissatisfied about deplored the fact that his guests were seeing his apartment at its messiest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deplore differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deplore are bemoan, bewail, and lament. While all these words 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

How are the words bewail and bemoan related as synonyms of deplore?

Both 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

When is lament a more appropriate choice than deplore?

The synonyms lament and deplore are sometimes interchangeable, but lament implies a profound or demonstrative expression of sorrow.

lamenting the loss of their only child

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 deplore Liberal politician Grigory Yavlinsky, who co-founded Yabloko in the 1990s and chairs its political committee, deplored the court's ruling in an online statement. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 In March 2022, 141 countries supported a resolution deploring Russian aggression and demanding that Russia withdraw its forces. — Lidia Pilecky, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Each of these societies deplored and ridiculed the other. — James Traub, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 Just as hedgehogs deplore foxes for a lack of theoretical ambition, foxes spend their time screaming at hedgehogs for missing this or that eloquent detail. — Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deplore

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deplore

Verb

Vance has neither criticized his friend nor publicly nudged Carlson to temper what’s been harsh criticism of Israel — and Trump’s cultivation of the Netanyahu government.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
At an October debate, Bass pointed out that Raman, as chair of the city council’s housing and homelessness committee, had repeatedly approved spending on Inside Safe, the very program Raman now criticizes as expensive and insufficiently accountable.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticize

Verb

The series focuses on a 13-year-old named Sophie, who mourns her grandfather Thomas every day in a Milan cemetery.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Riley Green, and more mourned Anderson, and honored the Country Music Hall of Fame member’s generational talent.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of mourn

Verb

Sirianni stood by his decision on that sequence but regretted kicking the ball in play to Ameer Abdullah on the ensuing kickoff, after Abdullah’s 53-yard return in seven seconds set up Jacksonville’s game-winning kick.

— Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni immediately regretted the decision.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of regret

Verb

That set off the wave of youth protests that blamed the collapse on high-level corruption and cronyism during renovation work at the station.

— JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Anything this pair does for the next several months that is not together will be scrutinized, dissected, interpreted, and ESPN can only blame itself.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of blame

Verb

The title track showcases piano while Bowen laments the friends and family who stood by him throughout his career.

— Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2026
Her husband, Dave Flint, 60, a former Republican who opposes Trump and now votes for Democrats, lamented that an issue affecting so few people has become such a national controversy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of lament

Verb

The Israeli-American Council forcefully condemned his rhetoric as dangerous, dehumanizing hate speech.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Sensationalist books, television specials, true-crime documentaries, podcasts, and talk shows have judged and condemned him without conclusive evidence, without a trial, and without an opportunity to defend himself.

— Gustavo Egusquiza, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of condemn

Verb

Omar has denounced the investigations as a politically motivated conspiracy against her, and used it to urge supporters to donate to her reelection campaign.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
That backstory could make his refusal to denounce the ad a more enduring political problem for him.

— Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of denounce

Verb

Many of his domestic critics have faulted him for prolonging the war in Gaza to appease his far-right allies, and for permitting ultra-Orthodox Jews to forgo military service to appease that sizable religious voter bloc.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
For boards and CXOs, fault tolerance, error correction, economics and demonstrable advantage still matter.

— Rajjie Sarmey, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of fault

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deplorably

deplore

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“Deplore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deplore. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deplore

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