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

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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 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 The liberal Jewish organization J Street deplored Iran’s behavior, but emphasized there was no imminent threat to justify a preventive assault. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026 Regardless of the level of material damage, Shiites are deploring the physical and spiritual assaults against their sacred landscape. — Mary Thurlkill, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026 But Goldsworthy deplores the city dweller’s notion of the countryside as a picturesque escape. — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deplore

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deplore

Verb

Wasserman Schultz was sharply criticized by Black community leaders and the other four candidates, who are all African American, for running in this district.

— Caroline Linton, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Ba's novels explored women caught between traditional upbringing and modern aspirations, criticizing polygamy, widespread in the country, and patriarchy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticize

Verb

People gathered at Downtown Park in Hopkins, Minnesota, on Monday night to mourn the deaths of 7-year-old Evie Brown, Kristen Brown and Alice Brown.

— Ashley Grams, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
In the time since her sudden death, celebrities publicly mourning include Viola Davis, Selma Blair, and Rosie O’Donnell.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of mourn

Verb

The Argentina international defender, now a coach at Arsenal, came to regret the saga.

— Tim Spiers, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Mike, the moderator of the /porcelainveneerstruth subreddit, has made his corner of the internet a safe space not only for those who regret their veneers, but for people who are looking for guidance on where to start the process.

— Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of regret

Verb

But blaming the technology risks obscuring the fact that humans write the code, select the data on which AI systems are trained, approve their use, and decide where and how they are deployed.

— Shaun Harper, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Many adults who struggle with food or body image blame the role models who were dieting during their childhood.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of blame

Verb

Among them were Broward County sheriff’s deputies who wanted photos and a trio of women who lamented they had been drawn into a new Republican-leaning district.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Webb and Payton will lament converting only 5-of-14 attempts on third down, but the Broncos generally appeared in sync operationally.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of lament

Verb

Tlaib has a history of comments about Israel that have been widely condemned by many of her colleagues, including Jewish Democrats from South Florida, over the years.

— Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday condemned the attack by Houthi rebels on the ship in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, saying three Pakistanis had been killed in the attack and another wounded.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of condemn

Verb

Sabalenka double-faulted on match point, her seventh double fault of the day, to put an exclamation point on an irritating evening.

— Lukas Weese, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Sherrill faulted the software vendor responsible for the defective system, the MVC for taking roughly a year to resolve the problem, and the previous administration for failing to disclose the error once it had been identified publicly.

— Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 23 July 2026

Definition of fault

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“Deplore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deplore. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of deplore

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