What does deplore mean?
Deplore is a formal verb meaning to express strong disapproval of something, often accompanied by a sense of sorrow or regret. It appears frequently in journalism, political commentary, and official statements: leaders deplore violence, commentators deplore declining standards, and citizens deplore injustice. The word carries two closely related senses — condemning something outright, and lamenting or bemoaning its existence — which reflect its Latin origin in deplorare, meaning to weep over or cry out against. Because it implies both judgment and grief, deplore conveys a more heartfelt and elevated tone than milder words like criticize or dislike. Its adjective form, deplorable, describes something worthy of such condemnation — deplorable conditions, for instance, are shockingly bad. Deplore is a useful word when you want to register not merely disagreement but genuine dismay, making it a staple of serious moral and civic discourse.
verbTo express strong disapproval of something; to condemn or lament, especially publicly.
- To express strong disapproval or condemnation of something, especially in public or formal terms.
- To feel or express deep regret or sorrow about something; to lament or bemoan.
"The editorial deplored the government's failure to act on climate change."
"Human rights organisations deplored the crackdown on peaceful protesters."
"She deplored the decline of handwriting, insisting that something valuable had been lost."
When you deplore something, you're literally 'crying out' against it — the word comes straight from the Latin deplorare, to weep over.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deplore
Deplore derives from the Latin verb deplorare, formed from the prefix de- ('down, away') plus plorare ('to weep, cry out'), so its literal sense was to weep bitterly over something. It entered English in the early 17th century, initially carrying the sense of lamenting or grieving over misfortune before shifting toward expressing strong public disapproval. It shares its root plorare with related borrowings such as implore and explore, all involving crying out in some fashion.
Related word forms
How deplore is actually used
Formal register — common in journalism, official statements, and political discourse. It carries a tone of earnest moral disapproval rather than casual complaint. In British English the final syllable may be pronounced with or without a non-rhotic /r/ depending on accent.
Easily confused with deplore
"Deplore" means to express strong disapproval or grief over something, while "deprecate" (in its older sense) means to express mild disapproval, and in modern computing usage it means to mark something as obsolete.
"Deplore" expresses condemnation or regret, whereas "implore" means to beg or plead earnestly with someone.