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
Checkout pages create friction to prevent regretful purchases.
—
Jason Snyder, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Unfortunately the hardest part to this is not to live in a regretful state.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Feb. 2025
As expected, many regretful habits are attached to nighttime routines–when some productive distractions or extra comforts added to the process can at first feel like a godsend.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 24 Jan. 2025
Tsukasa is 26 and feeling a little wayward, regretful about his late start in figure skating.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Jason Snyder, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Unfortunately the hardest part to this is not to live in a regretful state.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Feb. 2025
As expected, many regretful habits are attached to nighttime routines–when some productive distractions or extra comforts added to the process can at first feel like a godsend.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 24 Jan. 2025
Tsukasa is 26 and feeling a little wayward, regretful about his late start in figure skating.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regretful
Adjective
-
And before long, his pig is stolen, leaving him heartbroken.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
Once the game is over, pink soldiers approach Yong-sik to shoot him and ensure that he’s eliminated, despite Geum-ja’s heartbroken pleas.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
That, dear reader, is the sorry state of login security today.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
The outburst inspired motherly glances from Adams and Jones, who regaled McAllister before with sorry tales of the past two decades.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Once abundant on the island, this ground-foraging dove – with an earthy red-brown plumage and a quiet, mournful call – disappeared from the wild by 1972.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
-
Several of her patients left mournful messages on the Yelp page of her Arcadia practice.—
Clara Harter
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Riri’s too ashamed of all the crime she’s enabled since her visit to Wakanda to reach out to her mentor.—
Stacia Brown,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
-
The Trump administration's level of sheer corruption is appalling and Paramount should be ashamed of putting its profits over independent journalism.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
The 22-year-old fan admitted to taunting Marte and was remorseful, according to ESPN.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
25 June 2025
-
But for once, or maybe twice, Hill seemed genuinely remorseful and reflective this week.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
Maliciously or willfully disturbing a funeral, memorial service, procession or burial ceremony. Threatening, quarreling or challenging to fight someone, or fighting.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
16 June 2025
-
Visitation will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. local time at the Springhill Cemetery in Madison, Tenn., while the funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph Church.—
Rachel DeSantis,
People.com,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
When the second gun was found, the passenger was apologetic, TSA workers said.—
Amaia Gavica,
Idaho Statesman,
12 June 2025
-
Being apologetic for the incident, Heim told NBC Sports: Corey Heim, driver of the #11 Safelite/Foster Love Toyota, enters his truck for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 30, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Regretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://x0upouf933.proxynodejs.usequeue.com/thesaurus/regretful. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share