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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of regretful
Weapon art: Call regretful visages in a swirl of smoke.
—
Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Kim’s regretful aria in Act 1 — suspecting his own brother of his father’s murder, Artaserse has mistakenly ordered him to be executed — was a turning point.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025
Even really successful cast members are a little regretful or self-deprecating about it, or feel anxious even talking about it.
—Peter White, Deadline, 18 June 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
Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Kim’s regretful aria in Act 1 — suspecting his own brother of his father’s murder, Artaserse has mistakenly ordered him to be executed — was a turning point.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025
Even really successful cast members are a little regretful or self-deprecating about it, or feel anxious even talking about it.
—Peter White, Deadline, 18 June 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
-
The family returned home heartbroken and frustrated, with no DNA testing conducted and no indication that the remains—or any other evidence—had been preserved or examined.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
But the human in me — my heart and my soul — was heartbroken.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Certainly no other fan base will feel sorry for Blackhawks fans, but man, what Blackhawks fans wouldn’t give to be nitpicking a coach’s decision about who plays right wing on the fourth line again rather than checking out who’ll be available at the top of the draft in June.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Miss Manners is sorry to see the end of an ancient tradition that was one of the hallmarks of civilization.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The zebras pranced, all frisky energy; the elephants, lumbering and mournful, trailed behind with their ancient thoughts.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Kogonada’s mournful sci-fi drama takes place in a world where people can buy robot children and follows all the sorrow that comes with the arrangement.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Then sank a flotilla,Then fought a gorilla,And wasn’t ashamed one scintilla!—
Richard Lederer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
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The only one who should be ashamed is Robert De Niro.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 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
-
During her sentencing, Javice appeared remorseful, according to several reports.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
While the lyrics seem remorseful, Cardi’s only regrets are for him.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee partnered with AES to start a fund to support funeral costs and other expenses for the families of those who died in the devastating blast.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Nov. 2025
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While a sect of their fandom BRIIZE celebrated the comeback, a more conservative portion protested by sending funeral wreaths to the company headquarters.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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During training, Lozano’s Instagram account posted an apologetic message in English.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Oct. 2025
-
When Joanne and Morgan finally confront Abby about the American Girl Doll incident, the latter is apologetic.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Regretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regretful. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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