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Glite Dictionary
lamentable

lamentable

6 6.7
Very bad and upsetting because it should not have happened
  • adjective
  • /ˈlæməntəbl/
  • Formal
translation icon : lamentable
  • Her lamentable performance in the competition reflected her lack of preparation.
  • such lamentable

Wars, strikes, and all sorts of lamentable unrest.

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Examples

  • While the loss of cultural transmission is lamentable, the focus on functionality is understandable, especially in light of widening international trade.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Had Kashani been such a close friend, why would Ben-Menashe offer not one word of sympathy for his lamentable fate?

    Academic text (2012)

  • "Such discrimination is lamentable, although, unfortunately, the Supreme Court has not shut the door on it," the CEO statement said.

    Academic text (2017)

  • I was a pretty big Dilbert fan up until the lamentable TV series.

    Blog text (26)

  • Mesonero speaks of the lamentable conditions in Madrid in numerous works.

    Academic text (1993)

  • Consequently, our judgment is developed not through wisdom but through lamentable logic.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Meanwhile, in the seas of that lamentable planet, the blue-green algae had not been idle.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • And Breech concludes that the father ends up a lamentable example of Luke's doctrine of uncritical Christian love and compassionate forgiveness.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The blacklists, which made Joseph McCarthy infamous, were a lamentable symbol of what can happen when antiwar emotions collide with ensconced power.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The decision to close the community center was lamentable, leaving many residents without vital services.

Synonyms

sad
vslamentable
842 1.0

Bad or unfortunate and likely to make people feel unhappy

is judged as regrettable or more serious than mere sadness
sorry
vslamentable
686 3.5

Of poor quality or making you feel pity

expresses a stronger moral wrong or deeper regret than poor quality
unfortunate
vslamentable
469 1.2

Not lucky or causing a bad result

focuses on deserving regret rather than on mere bad luck
pitiful
vslamentable
54 3.9

So bad or weak that people feel angry and look down on it

is about being deserving of regret rather than evoking pity
deplorable
vslamentable
38 6.8

Very bad and unacceptable, deserving strong criticism

is less about shock and more about regret or sorrow
distressing
vslamentable
  • Specialized
36 4.6

Causing strong worry and emotional pain

is about being deserving of regret rather than causing emotion
regrettable
vslamentable
33 4.2

Causes people to feel sorry

is a stronger, more severe kind of misfortune

Antonyms

fortunate
296 1.8

Being lucky in a situation

advantageous
27 3.5

Helping you get a better result

How Regrettable

tragic
367 3.4
deplorable
38 6.8
lamentable
  • Formal
6 6.7
regrettable
33 4.2
unfortunate
469 1.2

Surface Forms

lamentable positive

Morphology

lamentable = lament (transparent) = lament + able

The adjective is directly formed from the verb 'lament' with the productive suffix '-able', meaning 'able to be lamented' or 'deserving regret'.

Etymology

Lamentable comes from the same root as lament and from an old Latin word lamentari meaning 'to wail' or 'express sorrow'. So, something lamentable is sad or deserving regret, a thing you should feel sorry about.