regret 1 of 2

as in to lament
to feel sorry or dissatisfied about we regret any inconvenience that we may have caused you

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

regret

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word regret different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of regret are anguish, grief, sorrow, and woe. While all these words mean "distress of mind," regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

Where would anguish be a reasonable alternative to regret?

In some situations, the words anguish and regret are roughly equivalent. However, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

In what contexts can grief take the place of regret?

The meanings of grief and regret largely overlap; however, grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

When might sorrow be a better fit than regret?

The words sorrow and regret can be used in similar contexts, but sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

When could woe be used to replace regret?

While in some cases nearly identical to regret, woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

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 regret
Verb
Part of him regrets signing the papers. Molly Parker, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025 Bet Wednesday is regretting that nomination now! Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
Either way, the team will look back on this season for Volpe with some regret. Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 Amid all the barbarity for barbarity’s sake, Jonsson carries the film with a deep well of unspoken regret. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for regret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regret
Verb
  • Andrew Harnik/Getty Images What To Know On September 13, Invita, which, according to its website, has two California locations, one in Rancho Santa Fe and the other in Carlsbad, posted pictures and messages on social media lamenting Kirk's murder.
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Trabuco coach Mark Nolan lamented a penalty that wiped out an interception that preceded Romo’s score, calling it the turning point in the game.
    Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In a sentencing order, the judge said Martinez’s refusal to express remorse for his criminal conduct closed off the judge’s ability to deliver a sentence lower than the 34 months requested by prosecutors.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
  • And although Abe offered remorse for Japan’s war crimes at a summit in Indonesia in 2015, the following day three of his cabinet ministers visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, a memorial to Japan’s war dead and widely seen as a symbol of its militarism.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Many lawmakers, conservative and liberal alike, mourned him and the incident of political violence.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Tahlequah previously made global headlines in 2018 for carrying a dead calf for over 1,000 miles across 17 days, demonstrating what researchers believe is mourning behavior among orcas.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That feeling of guilt, in other words, can be better described as fear of missing out.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Whether tackling working-parent guilt or the challenges of caring for a newborn, some of the most popular video games are telling stories that tap into contemporary anxieties about parenting.
    G Kirilloff, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But people can get very emotional about money, experiencing feelings from scarcity and fear to greed, anxiety, shame, and guilt.
    Gabriel Shahin, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The shame falls on the person who betrayed me.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Regret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regret. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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