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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of regretful
My sole interaction with the mother was calm and with good intentions, and the outcome of the encounter is regretful.
—
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
And the conflict behind it all dates back to a regretful college recruitment and housing decision.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
My regretful error was not planning to give myself enough time to properly shop.
—Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
So was recalling important, impactful, or regretful experiences from his childhood.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
And the conflict behind it all dates back to a regretful college recruitment and housing decision.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
My regretful error was not planning to give myself enough time to properly shop.
—Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
So was recalling important, impactful, or regretful experiences from his childhood.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regretful
Adjective
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Ali later finds her, a moment that leaves him completely heartbroken, before testing the drugs and confirming they were laced with fentanyl.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
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Horace leaves Hollywood and a heartbroken but determined Aaron behind.—
Meredith Maran,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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There’s just too many quality teams for an underdog to go all the way – sorry to any USMNT fans out there.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
The Pasadena Playhouse — sorry, just Pasadena Playhouse — is an anomaly.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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On the soundtrack, mournful wailing music presents her as a tragic character.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
2 June 2026
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The pair end the episode romantically riding together with a mournful song playing, which is akin to Dutton-family love-making.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
Adjective
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At their most effective, residential schools left Survivors ashamed and confused about being Indigenous.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
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Mike Isaac, a veteran tech reporter for the Times, wasn’t ashamed to admit that Brockman had inspired him to secure his own butt pillow.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
20 May 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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Austin said Quiros-Soto has remained cooperative throughout the process, and during his interview, appeared to be calm and remorseful.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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Peters doesn’t appear especially remorseful.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Also on Monday, senior government, police and military officials attended funeral prayers for the slain security personnel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
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With Hillary Dawa alone on the world’s tallest mountain in perilous conditions for so long, his family had already begun funeral rites for him.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
Be apologetic for the inconvenience.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
6 May 2026
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Streep imitated how Hawn, 80, would arrive on set, always apologetic.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Regretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regretful. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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