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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of regretful
The camera continues zooming out, revealing more segments of people, seemingly alluding to all the lives Park has destroyed in her quest for greed and power, which has ultimately left her regretful.
—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
My sole interaction with the mother was calm and with good intentions, and the outcome of the encounter is regretful.
—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
And the conflict behind it all dates back to a regretful college recruitment and housing decision.
—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
My regretful error was not planning to give myself enough time to properly shop.
—
Colleen McNally Arnett,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
My sole interaction with the mother was calm and with good intentions, and the outcome of the encounter is regretful.
—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
And the conflict behind it all dates back to a regretful college recruitment and housing decision.
—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
My regretful error was not planning to give myself enough time to properly shop.
—
Colleen McNally Arnett,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regretful
Adjective
-
Was, still heartbroken about the loss of his friend and bandmate, recalled their first time on tour.
-
Prince Harry was heartbroken after arriving at Eton College in 1998.
Adjective
-
Much has been made of this World Cup’s mandatory commercial—sorry, hydration—breaks, which have paused action, even during indoor or rain-soaked matches.
-
Back home that night, dues paid to god, the women slathered their faces with turmeric cream and went to bed, bitter-smelling, sorry for themselves on that night as every night.
Adjective
-
The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
-
The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
Adjective
-
She would be horrified, hurt—ashamed, even, of Zeenat’s behavior.
-
Legendary Iran striker Ali Daei, widely recognised as one of Asia’s greatest ever soccer players, was once a client but Beiranvand felt too ashamed to introduce himself.
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
Adjective
-
Outside the courtroom, attorney Eric Clayman told reporters that Watson is remorseful and didn’t want to hurt Ibrahim.
-
Lil Wayne is feeling remorseful after leaving fans in Maine high and dry.
Adjective
-
When Khomeini’s coffin began moving in a convoy, mourners surged towards it, causing a crowd crush and forcing the funeral procession to be abandoned, according to ISNA.
-
Amid the inextricable trauma of losing her 18-year-old child, the mother had feared that traditional funeral customs might be handled differently because of the manner in which her daughter died.
Adjective
-
Instead of trying to hide the battery pack behind oversized body panels, the Streetdog integrates it into the overall silhouette in a way that feels deliberate rather than apologetic.
-
Palmer was immediately apologetic, though her family was already laughing.
Cite this Entry
“Regretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regretful. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
