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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of regretful
As a holistic therapist, she’s unfortunately seen this issue come up time and time again: individuals who overshare too soon, confuse emotional exposure with connection, and later feel raw, misunderstood, or regretful.
—
Dominique Fluker, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
Created in 2019 by Eastbound & Down's Danny McBride, the filthy HBO comedy centers around a family of corrupt, fast-talking televangelists led by John Goodman's aging and regretful Eli Gemstone.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 5 May 2025
Ma and Tsai give strong performances that cast the dynamic as one not of scorn but of regretful misunderstanding.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
Checkout pages create friction to prevent regretful purchases.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Dominique Fluker, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
Created in 2019 by Eastbound & Down's Danny McBride, the filthy HBO comedy centers around a family of corrupt, fast-talking televangelists led by John Goodman's aging and regretful Eli Gemstone.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 5 May 2025
Ma and Tsai give strong performances that cast the dynamic as one not of scorn but of regretful misunderstanding.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
Checkout pages create friction to prevent regretful purchases.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regretful
Adjective
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Adams leads the cast as Marianne, a heartbroken, struggling young painter who escapes to the countryside with her best friends — Lila (Nell Williams, A24’s Huntington) and Betty (Jessamine-Bliss Bell, Bodies) — for what should be a healing retreat.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
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Continue reading … 'PRAYERS TO EVERYBODY' – Minnesota Timberwolves star Julius Randle said news of the horrific shooting that left at least two people dead and 17 others injured at a church in his team's home city left him heartbroken.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The original action comedy got its kicks (sorry) and laughs from his family members slowly discovering that their unassuming patriarch is actually a secret bad ass.—
Scott Phillips,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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The grandfather also showed him the sorry sight of contemporary hedges deformed by diabolical flail trimmers that chewed the natural architecture of branches into an anarchy of twigs.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The backstory for the maze follows the mournful tale of Mary Worth following the tragic death of her family.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
20 Aug. 2025
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Soon she’s caught up in a supernatural murder mystery involving fatally beaky crows; dealing with an obsessive, disturbingly round-eyed fan (Evie Templeton); and bickering with mother Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones, who tends to strike a quiet note that seems almost genuinely mournful).—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Many scam victims are embarrassed and ashamed to admit publicly that they were taken in.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
22 Aug. 2025
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Being frugal isn’t something that people should be ashamed of; frugality can lead to the wildest innovations.—
Vivek Bhaskaran,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 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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Brom understands the severity of his crimes, is remorseful and has apologized to everyone involved.—
Matthew Stolle,
Twin Cities,
2 Aug. 2025
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Officers said Neal was remorseful during interviews.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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And while high-fashion people are also known for their fondness for black outfits, this black feels a little more funeral black than everyday black.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
20 Aug. 2025
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However, funeral arrangements for Henderson have yet to be announced.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Though staff were apologetic, Wolf went along with the request.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
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Those of us women on the right aren’t asking for men to become weak or apologetic, but why has strength become indistinguishable from dominance?—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Regretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regretful. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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