lamented
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lamented
Explanation
Use the adjective lamented to talk fondly about someone who's died. You might describe your favorite elementary school teacher as "my dear lamented Mrs. McGinty." Lamented is often used in the phrase "late lamented," which implies that the person you're talking about is dead and that you really miss him or her. Inanimate objects can also be lamented, like the neighborhood book shop that closed, or a magazine you used to read that is no longer in print. The root Latin word is lamentationem, which describes wailing, moaning, and weeping.
Vocabulary lists containing lamented
Much Ado About Nothing
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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This Week In Culture: May 31–June 5, 2020
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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.
Despite being satisfied the correct decision was made, Rooney lamented the advantage goalkeepers get inside their own area.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
Many a sitcom, drama and news program of that era lamented the lack of congressional courage.
From Salon • May 8, 2026
Grynspan said the next UN chief "needs to take a risk" and lamented: "We have become a risk-conservative organization."
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
Sherrill lamented the lack of funding from FIFA, adding that the football organization “is making $11 billion off of this World Cup” and “should pay for the rides.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026
They squealed like stuck hogs while Mrs. Cowgill lamented from-the milk wagon.
From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck
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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.