adjective
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wretched, deplorable, or distressing
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an archaic word for mournful
Other Word Forms
- lamentableness noun
- lamentably adverb
- unlamentable adjective
Etymology
Origin of lamentable
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin lāmentābilis, equivalent to lāmentā ( rī ) ( lament ) + -bilis -ble
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Local police and Spain's Civil Guard have begun investigating to try to clear up this lamentable event, in which everything points towards a robbery," read the post.
From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026
Lundstram, who had one of his worst days in a Rangers jersey with an unfortunate own goal and a lamentable decision that earned him a red card, is more defensively minded.
From BBC • May 11, 2024
“I have no intention of using such a lamentable situation for political reasons,” said López Obrador.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2024
Smartphones have become an indispensable on-mountain tool — although the push to eliminate paper trail maps is lamentable.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 12, 2023
Terrance expressed annoyance at the overseer’s lamentable handwriting but apart from that the men got along amiably.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
