lamentable situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lamentable situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a regrettable or unfortunate state of affairs. Example: "The community is facing a lamentable situation with the lack of resources for education."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

And yet there is no unforeseen event that triggered this lamentable situation.

The Guardian - Business

It is a really lamentable situation, but it is part of why it is so difficult to change things".

The New York Times

"For Burmese, Repression, AIDS and Denial" (front page, Nov. 14) shed some much needed light on the lamentable situation in Myanmar.

The New York Times

"The Norma Talmadge Collection" from Kino International corrects that lamentable situation by offering two Talmadge features from her glory years: the 1926 comedy "Kiki," directed by Clarence Brown, and the 1923 melodrama "Within the Law," directed by Frank Lloyd.

The New York Times

Part of the reason for this lamentable situation is that business and government have mostly succeeded in keeping us all in two minds about ecology as a workable philosophy for daily life.

The Guardian

Even for a sprinter good enough to be in with a shout of making England's squad for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, that is a lamentable situation.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "My party has been clear that in our view we believe that this lamentable human rights situation meant that the British prime minister - like the Canadian and Indian prime ministers - should not attend the summit".

BBC

In any case, the Florida law folks agree that the situation is "lamentable" for scholars who face litigious literary behemoths.

Stanford University

The Speaker said "the notion that an MP would have to be pushed through the division lobby in a wheelchair is completely uncivilised" and repeatedly described the situation as "lamentable".

The Guardian

It didn't make any sense, unless you thought, as one member of Hoover's Cabinet put it, that F.D.R. had only "a most laughable, if it were not so lamentable, ignorance of the situation".

The New Yorker

In so many situations, overt antisemitism is seen as lamentable but ultimately unproblematic.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lamentable situation" when you want to express a sense of regret or disappointment about a particular state of affairs, especially one that is preventable or should be improved.

Common error

Avoid using "lamentable situation" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for simpler, more direct phrases like "unfortunate situation" or "bad situation" in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lamentable situation" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "lamentable" modifies the noun "situation". It describes a state of affairs that is regrettable or unfortunate. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lamentable situation" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, employed to describe a regrettable or unfortunate state of affairs. While Ludwig AI verifies its correctness, it's more commonly found in news and media, and scientific contexts, indicating a degree of formality. For alternative expressions, one could consider "unfortunate predicament" or "deplorable state of affairs", depending on the desired nuance. When using this phrase, aim for clarity and precision, and be mindful of avoiding overuse in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfortunate predicament

Replaces "situation" with "predicament", implying a difficult or troublesome state.

deplorable state of affairs

Substitutes "lamentable" with "deplorable" and "situation" with "state of affairs", intensifying the negative connotation.

regrettable circumstances

Uses "regrettable" instead of "lamentable" and "circumstances" instead of "situation", softening the tone slightly.

unhappy state

Simplifies the phrase, using more common and less formal vocabulary.

disgraceful mess

Emphasizes the disorder and shame associated with the situation.

unfortunate reality

Focuses on the undeniable and unwelcome nature of the situation.

troubling development

Highlights the worrying and evolving nature of the situation.

awful condition

Emphasizes the severity and unpleasantness of the situation.

grim reality

Highlights the bleak and harsh truth of the circumstances.

sorry state

A more concise and common way to describe a regrettable situation.

FAQs

How to use "lamentable situation" in a sentence?

You can use "lamentable situation" to describe something you find regrettable or unfortunate. For instance, "The lack of funding for schools is a "lamentable situation" that needs to be addressed."

What can I say instead of "lamentable situation"?

You can use alternatives like "unfortunate predicament", "deplorable state of affairs", or "regrettable circumstances depending on the context.

Which is correct, "lamentable situation" or "deplorable situation"?

Both "lamentable situation" and "deplorable situation" are correct, but "deplorable" suggests a stronger degree of disapproval or condemnation than "lamentable".

What's the difference between "lamentable situation" and "unfortunate situation"?

"Unfortunate situation" is a more general term for any bad or unlucky circumstance. "Lamentable situation" specifically implies a cause for grief, regret, or disappointment. The latter carries a heavier emotional weight.