deplore

[dih-plawr, -plohr]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deplore ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), de·plored, de·plor·ing.

to regret deeply or strongly; lament: to deplore the present state of morality.

to disapprove of; censure.

to feel or express deep grief for or in regard to: The class deplored the death of their teacher.

Nearby words

Origin of deplore

1550–60; < Latin dēplōrāre to weep bitterly, complain, equivalent to dē- de- + plōrāre to wail, probably of imitative orig.

SYNONYMS FOR deplore

1. bemoan, bewail. 3. mourn.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deplore ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsdep·lo·ra·tion

[dep-luh-rey-shuhn, dee-pluh-] /ˌdɛp ləˈreɪ ʃən, ˌdi plə-/, nounde·plor·er, nounde·plor·ing·ly, adverbun·de·plored, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for deplore

I deplore the lawlessness that seems to be sweeping the West Bank with price-tags and land-grabs galore.
Obama: Come Visit The Settlements|Samuel Lebens|March 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They are about to see what we so often deplore as mere sausage-making, and they will love it.
A Civil War Professor Reviews 'Lincoln'|David Frum|November 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It quickly came to mean, to deplore or to disapprove in an especially morally laden way.
Policing the Grammar Police|David Frum|October 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I'm about to quote something pretty deplorable, but not in order to deplore it.
Why Does Michelle Malkin Hate Half Her Country?|David Frum|September 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST

President Obama may deplore that trend, but he seems to have no very clear idea of how to alter it.
4 Predictions For A Second Obama Term|David Frum|August 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Habeas Corpus and the safeguards of Freedom which you deplore are ravished by Slavery.
Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 7 (of 20)|Charles Sumner
They do not deplore our misfortunes but rather rejoice in them.
The Journal of Negro History, Vol. I. Jan. 1916|Various
We could only deplore that we had arrived an hour too late, and take a walk round the town.
A Visit to the Holy Land, Egypt, and Italy|Ida Pfeiffer
They could deplore war, because it destroyed their own best products.
Golden Lads|Arthur Gleason and Helen Hayes Gleason
"Most certainly I do acknowledge you, and most sincerely do I deplore your misfortunes," answered the duke.
The Lost Lady of Lone|E.D.E.N. Southworth

British Dictionary definitions for deplore

deplore

verb (tr)

to express or feel sorrow about; lament; regret

to express or feel strong disapproval of; censure

Derived Formsdeplorer, noundeploringly, adverb

Word Origin for deplore

C16: from Old French deplorer, from Latin dēplōrāre to weep bitterly, from plōrāre to weep, lament

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for deplore

deplore

1550s, "to give up as hopeless," from French déplorer (13c.), from Latin deplorare "deplore, bewail, lament, give up for lost," from de- "entirely" (see de-) + plorare "weep, cry out." Meaning "to regret deeply" is from 1560s. Related: Deplored; deploring.