1
as in heartbroken
expressing or suggesting mourning
gave me a regretful look when I told him we had to move my mother to a nursing home
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sorry
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
was truly regretful that she had yelled at him
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of regretful
The story line is primarily a way to explore Annie’s insecurities, with Hughie made to feel guilty and regretful about his dalliance with the doppelgänger instead of ever getting to process his own reaction to the revelation.
—
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025
Reubens is candid and perhaps regretful about some of his controlling behavior on the show, and its eventual demise; ditto some of the choices made on Big Top Pee-Wee.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Her scenes with Burstein are rich and funny and regretful; those with June (Jordan Tyson) and Louise (Joy Woods) are withering.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025
Reubens is candid and perhaps regretful about some of his controlling behavior on the show, and its eventual demise; ditto some of the choices made on Big Top Pee-Wee.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Her scenes with Burstein are rich and funny and regretful; those with June (Jordan Tyson) and Louise (Joy Woods) are withering.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regretful
Adjective
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King was on an errand to pick up a snack for his mom when he was shot, heartbroken relatives said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2025
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Downs recovered from her injuries but remained heartbroken over the loss of her friends and overwhelmed with survivor's guilt.—
Laurel Morales,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That’s not gonna happen with Chubby Checker, sorry.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2025
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That’s not to say that Liverpool supporters spent that moment feeling sorry for themselves.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The band played somber hymns marking Good Friday, a mournful day during Holy Week.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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At the vigil, the atmosphere appeared to be both mournful and celebratory of Scooter’s life.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The people running this organization should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2025
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That’s plain wrong, and the justices ought to be ashamed.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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Gayle’s attorney, Diane Gonzalez, told McClatchy News that Gayle was remorseful and broke down on the stand when testifying.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2025
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Eric claims to be remorseful, and makes a big point of it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Keeping with tradition, the Vatican’s health department verifies the pope’s death in his home, and his body is placed in a coffin and transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing, the funeral Mass and burial.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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The funeral mass will begin at 10am CET (1am PT) and take place on the parvis of Saint Peter’s Basilica, or the space in front of the basilica.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Following the producers’ warning, Rourke was apologetic.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2025
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The drafts, sent back and forth between Bub and trustees, shift dramatically in tone from angry and defensive to conciliatory and apologetic to concise and professional.—
Carly Flandro,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Regretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regretful. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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