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
The Edge doesn’t regret not going through with it sooner. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025 Walking barefoot or in socks to the restroom is unhygienic and often regretted due to potential exposure to germs. Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 17 June 2025
Noun
Still, Hoffman praised Moster for expressing regret and called his return to Jewish observance a welcome, if incomplete, development. Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025 Both the late Benchley and Spielberg have expressed regret for the impact the book and the film had on real sharks. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for regret
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regret
Verb
  • The apparel choice generated some healthy discourse, with some lamenting the lack of full Monarchs tribute attire.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2025
  • But Shildt is not prone to publicly lament any shortcomings about his players.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Buyer's remorse does not create a felony conviction and a life sentence.
    Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
  • But while visitors may find plenty of reasons to feel remorse when their Vegas sojourn ends, absolution might be found in the city’s renewable energy boom.
    Max Bearak, New York Times, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • These lonely senior citizens arrive at a Los Angeles bungalow where Fish, newly discharged from an asylum, wrestles with an imagined demon and Poinsettia mourns a fantasy romance with composer Giacomo Puccini.
    Armond White, National Review, 25 June 2025
  • The Ultimate Angus Philly went the way of the Dodo almost 15 years ago, and customers have been mourning the discontinuation of The Three Cheese Steak Sandwich for the better part of a decade.
    Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • There was overwhelming evidence of his guilt, including his DNA on the knife sheath, cell site evidence the night of the murders, video surveillance of his white Hyundai Elantra, and Amazon search and purchase history of the murder weapon.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Still unaware of the Front Man’s true identity, Gi-hun grapples with survivor’s guilt and begs to be killed.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Which is a shame, because there are alternatives to demolition, including one on display just a few blocks away.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 27 June 2025
  • Their cruelty is wielded without shame or restraint.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Regret.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regret. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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