One should not lament over past mistakes too long.
Source: tatoeba (270042)
Lament
Synonyms for "lament" (156 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (32)
Strong matches (46)
Noun(17 words)
Related words (78)
Verb(22 words)
Noun(26 words)
Adjective(1 words)
prolonged weeping
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: bemoan, bewail, deplore, dirge, elegy.
- Sentence evidence is available for lament, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "lament".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "lament"
Keep "lament" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "lament" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "lament", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "lament" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesShowing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
11 entriesbitterly lamentdeep lamentdeeply lamentgrave lamentlament overlament the lossnational lamentpersonal lamentpublic lamentpublicly lamentsolemn lament
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
15 total sentences available.
I call on the living, lament the dead, shatter the lightning.
Source: tatoeba (2124965)
There has never been an age that did not applaud the past and lament the present.
Source: tatoeba (2655569)
The King's son was beside himself with pain, and in his despair he leapt down from the tower. He escaped with his life, but the thorns into which he fell, pierced his eyes. Then he wandered quite blind about the forest, ate nothing but roots and berries, and did nothing but lament and weep over the loss of his dearest wife.
Source: tatoeba (4846185)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "lament"?
Closest matches include bemoan, bewail, deplore, dirge, elegy.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "lament"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.