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
Her scenes with Burstein are rich and funny and regretful; those with June (Jordan Tyson) and Louise (Joy Woods) are withering.
—
Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Wilson is one of the richest characters in Stamp’s oeuvre: regretful and resigned, hilarious and mournful, and deeply angry yet with flashes of tenderness.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Immediately after their night together, Laurel seems regretful while John is hopeful.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 20 Aug. 2025
Reminded of that moment Wednesday, Pittman sounded a little regretful.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Wilson is one of the richest characters in Stamp’s oeuvre: regretful and resigned, hilarious and mournful, and deeply angry yet with flashes of tenderness.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
Immediately after their night together, Laurel seems regretful while John is hopeful.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 20 Aug. 2025
Reminded of that moment Wednesday, Pittman sounded a little regretful.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regretful
Adjective
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Neighbors said they were heartbroken to hear about the incident.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The younger brother of a man shot celebrating his birthday in the Bronx witnessed the slaying and was wounded by the gunman too, the siblings’ heartbroken mother revealed Monday.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In the footage, Rivera is initially apologetic to the trooper who pulls him over, saying sorry for going through a red light.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
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Bloom’s Keiwon Gulley is too irrepressible and in the moment to ever feel sorry for himself.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
McGuire’s goal here is entertainment (achieved) but his empathetic treatment of the indigenous tribes the English come into contact and conflict with gives his novel a mournful air of tragedy.—
Chloe Schama,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
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Adapted from Denis Johnson’s novella, Train Dreams stars Joel Edgerton in an elegiac, mournful portrait of a logger at the turn of the century.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Going for the black puffer coat is nothing to be ashamed of.—
Frances Solá-Santiago,
InStyle,
25 Jan. 2026
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He would be honored in Alex’ sacrifice, and ashamed of this current administration.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
24 Jan. 2026
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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During his years behind bars, the 81 year old became reflective and remorseful, though no less colorful.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
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Is DeAngelo remorseful for his crimes?—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The page has raised over $14,000 in donations with a goal of $18,000 to cover funeral costs.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
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Five bikers have been indicted in connection to a bloody brawl between the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club and Demons of Hell Motorcycle Club that began at a funeral service on Long Island.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In the footage, Rivera is initially apologetic to the trooper who pulls him over, saying sorry for going through a red light.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
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Days later, Levine wrote that the merchandise had been returned with an apologetic note written in red pen.—
Brian Niemietz,
Mercury News,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Regretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regretful. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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