deplore
Americanverb (used with object)
-
deplores,
present (3rd person singular)
-
deplored,
past participle, past
-
deploring
present participle
verb
-
to express or feel sorrow about; lament; regret
-
to express or feel strong disapproval of; censure
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
deploresimple
-
deploressimple
-
have deploredperfect
-
has deploredperfect
-
am deploringprogressive
-
are deploringprogressive
-
is deploringprogressive
-
have been deploringperfect progressive
-
has been deploringperfect progressive
Past
-
deploredsimple
-
had deploredperfect
-
was deploringprogressive
-
were deploringprogressive
-
had been deploringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of deplore
First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin dēplōrāre “to weep bitterly, complain,” equivalent to dē- + plōrāre “to wail”; see origin at de-
Explanation
The verb deplore is used to express strong disapproval of something. If you really, really hate the way your mom makes meatloaf, then it's safe to say you deplore it. Deplore comes from Latin roots that mean "to bewail or lament." So if you deplore something, you object to it because it brings you sorrow or grief. People often deplore things that they regret or feel bad about. You might deplore the inhumane treatment of animals or the deforestation of the Amazon. Or maybe you just deplore your wardrobe choices from middle school.
Vocabulary lists containing deplore
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary from "John L. O'Sullivan on 'Manifest Destiny' " from 1839
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Many of the Iranian people, even those who deplore the regime, may support the home team in this fight.
From Slate ● Apr. 1, 2026
Despite the achievements, many deplore the accompanying cost of such urban development.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2025
Downey, who plunged into tech’s moral gray zones in his “Iron Man” outings, makes it possible for an audience to both deplore McNeal and delight in the abrasive pleasure of his company.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2024
The major corporations that responded to AP’s queries said they deplore human rights violations and environmental damage and would investigate.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 20, 2024
Though Old Rit continued to deplore the audacity, the boldness in Harriet that made her defy an overseer, she stopped calling her Minta or Minty.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
Martin Bertao, president of College Republicans of America, said the organization deplores antisemitism and disputed the membership of the young man appearing to salute in the photo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
The Paris Philharmonic said it had filed a complaint over the disruption, adding it "deplores and strongly condemns the serious incidents that occurred".
From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2025
He deplores social media, has renounced email and refuses to sully himself with the online departmental calendar that Bella insists her students use to make an appointment with her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2023
The vetoed section deplores the loss of life of migrants trying to reach Europe, commits to fight trafficking and calls for more work to solve the migration problem.
From Reuters ● Jun. 30, 2023
Mexia, the sarcastic historian of Charles V, writing of romance in 1545, deplores the public credulity which battened on such feeble stuff.
From Legends & Romances of Spain by Lewis Spence
Two major Islamic bodies, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Al-Azhar, issued statements that deplored the hateful rhetoric — but without making clear who had used it.
From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026
Turk also deplored Hezbollah's missile and drone attacks on northern Israel, and urged both parties to stop, immediately.
From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026
She deplored the way local Native Americans were treated by ranchers and the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025
Firstly, it commits exactly the same sin deplored by the statistics regulator, rolling multiple years’ worth of figures into one large sum.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2024
Mrs. Highcamp deplored the absence of her daughter from the races, and tried to convey to her what she had missed by going to the “Dante reading” instead of joining them.
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
Americans, in the meantime, kept poking at nominally Spanish California from the sea and overland, looking for weak points and deploring what they and Europeans thought were wasted possibilities in California’s under-exploited amenities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2025
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry later issued a statement calling Paludan an “Islam-hating charlatan” and deploring the fact that he was allowed to stage the demonstration.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 27, 2023
The flooding was an example of "what we have been deploring for some time," he said, adding that those countries which were responsible for pollution should do more to help those which are suffering.
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2022
Majewski has also said on Facebook that he’s not a registered Republican and, as noted above, made other comments deploring politics-related interpersonal hostility.
From Slate ● May 10, 2022
He released sincere public statements deploring the shooting and condemning it as evil.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
