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
In October of 2023, she was profiled by the New York Times and The Atlantic; both pieces were lamentations of a political figure who was not inclined to do the performance expected of political figures.
—
Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 23 July 2024
Comparable tilts could be seen elsewhere, and great was the lamentation: What happened to progressivism?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 29 June 2024
This grubby but remarkable bird, badly in need of a bath and some peace, has a difficult time tuning out Earth’s perpetual chorus of lamentation.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2024
One of Franz Kafka’s characteristic lamentations of writer’s block, captured in a handwritten letter from a sanatorium, is heading to the auction block.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for lamentation 
Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 23 July 2024
Comparable tilts could be seen elsewhere, and great was the lamentation: What happened to progressivism?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 29 June 2024
This grubby but remarkable bird, badly in need of a bath and some peace, has a difficult time tuning out Earth’s perpetual chorus of lamentation.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2024
One of Franz Kafka’s characteristic lamentations of writer’s block, captured in a handwritten letter from a sanatorium, is heading to the auction block.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for lamentation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lamentation
Noun
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The anthems, with all of their staid pomp and circumstance, were replaced by the faint wail of a synthesizer.—
Pablo Maurer,
The Athletic,
6 July 2024
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There is almost no question that doesn’t earn a wail or a hoot.—
Stephen Galloway,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
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Despite the order from Biden, 82, both Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and now-President Trump, 78, fought to have the flags raised for the inauguration, which fell within the 30-day mourning period.—
Lizzie Hyman,
People.com,
21 Jan. 2025
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Listen to this article Loading your audio article The Plainville community is in mourning after losing a longtime member of its police force on Saturday.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a half-skeptical lament for the process of tyranny and dissent, as alluded to in the scriptural epigraph about the strangling Ficus religiosa tree that gives the film its title.—
Armond White,
National Review,
22 Jan. 2025
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In classical terms, this begins as an Adagio in D minor — a slow lament led by a solo cello, that accelerates into a chaotic swell of strings.—
Kristen S. Hé,
Vulture,
25 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Americans responded to the cries of hunger in Ethiopia.—
William Lambers,
Hartford Courant,
19 Jan. 2025
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Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth’s opening statement was repeatedly interrupted by several protesters who were swiftly removed from the hearing room after disturbing his confirmation proceedings with shouts and cries.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This wry, lovelorn plaint is a cagey display of subtle dynamics and counterpoint on a lone electric guitar.—
Jon Pareles,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2025
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And to be perfectly fair, the New Deal had seven or eight big years of operation (the plaints about the Supreme Court etc. blocking reforms being so many excuses).—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near lamentation
Cite this Entry
“Lamentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lamentation. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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