expression
deplorable; alarming; lamentable
A formal, somewhat literary expression used to describe a situation or fact that is deeply regrettable or cause for serious concern. Often appears in news or commentary.
このような事故が再び起こるとは、まことに憂うべき事態だ。
It is truly a deplorable situation that such an accident has occurred again.
若者の投票率の低下は憂うべき傾向である。
The decline in voter turnout among young people is an alarming trend.
Similar in meaning (deplorable, lamentable), but 嘆かわしい is an i-adjective and more common in everyday speech. 憂うべき is more formal and often used in written or public commentary.
From the classical verb 憂う (うれう, 'to grieve, to worry') + the classical auxiliary べき (indicating obligation or propriety). The form 憂うべき is a fossilized classical expression meaning 'ought to be grieved over' or 'should be lamented'.