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.
Former Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati lamented Altman’s “constant panic around our projects,” which she wrote led to chaos and churn.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
He has long lamented his relative lack of control at Tesla, arguing in years past that he needed 25% voting control, in part, to avoid ever being pushed out.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
He often lamented the lack of quality coming from Hollywood.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
Despite being satisfied the correct decision was made, Rooney lamented the advantage goalkeepers get inside their own area.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
The speech of Pyrrhus had moved him greatly, and he lamented that the actor's passion was greater than his own.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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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.