as in wail
a crying out in grief
there was a great lamentation on Wall Street when the government's latest unemployment figures were published
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lamentation
Biblical-style lamentations over Israel’s final corruption have been a staple of the state’s critics and die-hard anti-Zionists for 70 years.
—
Martin Kramer, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2016
One third of the way into Katie Kitamura’s 2017 novel, A Separation, its narrator asks an elderly Greek woman to demonstrate a traditional funeral lamentation.
—Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
There have been lamentations about the end of an era and anxiety in the fan and creative communities about the risk of over-exploitation of the British super-spy.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
The van pulled into the street, and the crowd followed, muttering lamentations.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lamentation
Martin Kramer, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2016
One third of the way into Katie Kitamura’s 2017 novel, A Separation, its narrator asks an elderly Greek woman to demonstrate a traditional funeral lamentation.
—Lidija Haas, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025
There have been lamentations about the end of an era and anxiety in the fan and creative communities about the risk of over-exploitation of the British super-spy.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
The van pulled into the street, and the crowd followed, muttering lamentations.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lamentation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lamentation
Noun
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Thousands of cell phone lights and ear-piercing wails accompanied it.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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So, Nan is nowhere near over Guy, and making things more awkward, Theo can hear his wife’s wails on the other side of the door.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Communities across Florida, South Dakota, New York, and Connecticut, are observing a period of mourning this weekend, as official orders have directed flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of local and national figures.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Aug. 2025
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The guards honored the late Black Sabbath rocker on the day of his funeral procession in Birmingham, England, where crowds lined the streets in a reaction reminiscent of the public mourning of a royal death.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
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Without prompting, Cora then offered a lament regarding the state of the All-Star Game today.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
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For years, the lament has been clear: why are Texas tales filmed elsewhere?—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
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A bit more time can pass here, amidst the continuing cries of children swimming, as the great sun descends as low as possible to meet the mountain.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
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Trump slapped additional tariffs on automobile parts, inciting cries of protest from American car companies.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Noun
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But Barham plays the role both for plaints and for boasts.—
Jon Caramanica,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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Gay’s plaint is a variation of the good speakers are born belief.—
Jerry Weissman,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lamentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lamentation. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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