Basic Details
Word: Lamentable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Very bad or disappointing, in a way that makes you feel sorry or ashamed.
Synonyms: deplorable, regrettable, pitiful, shameful
Antonyms: admirable, praiseworthy, excellent
How to Spell Lamentable
Syllables: lam - en - ta - ble
Tricky part: The ending is -able, not -ible. Nothing in lament changes when able is added.
Watch out for: lamentible, lamentabel, lamantable
Memory tip: Lament + able, just as comfort + able gives comfortable. Nothing drops and nothing doubles.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The lamentable state of the village road made the bus ride very slow.
Example 2: It is lamentable that so many trees were cut for the parking lot.
Example 3: The team's lamentable fielding cost them the match.
Fun Fact
The noun lamentation comes from the same verb. The Book of Lamentations in the Bible is a set of poems mourning the fall of Jerusalem.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word lamentable as used in the sentence:
The museum's ancient paintings were in a lamentable condition after the leak.
a) deplorable
b) valuable
c) excellent
d) colourful
Show answer
a) deplorable. Paintings spoilt by a leak are in a very bad state, and deplorable says exactly that.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. suitable 2. valuable 3. comfortable 4. lamentible
a) very bad and disappointing
b) pleasant to sit or be in
c) right for the purpose
d) worth a lot
Show answer
a) very bad and disappointing. Lament is a whole word, and whole words usually take -able, as the other three do.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The team's tbnmeaalle display in the final upset the fans.
a) lamentation
b) laminated
c) palatable
d) lamentable
Show answer
d) lamentable. The jumble has a b and no o, i or p, which leaves lamentable.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A lamentable mistake is one that is ____.
a) clever and useful
b) brave and daring
c) bad and regrettable
d) funny and harmless
Show answer
c) bad and regrettable
2. Which word is the opposite of lamentable?
a) shameful
b) poor
c) pitiful
d) admirable
Show answer
d) admirable
