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
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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As the title suggests, the book details Turner's tale of a heartbroken widower who became an unlikely senior-citizen TV star on the first season of the reality show, which ended with an engagement to Nist.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
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Thomas told the outlet that her brother’s diagnosis left their family heartbroken.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Wait, sorry, who is Ashley French?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
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Their new offering will cover stories on the mental side of sports, such as how to drink coffee like Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, and tips from a gold medalist on how to say sorry less.—
Emily Olsen,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This internal struggle is portrayed with raw honesty, focusing on the darker, mournful corners of humanity that inspired the record’s lyrics.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
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Other tracks channel the mournful energy of the most political ’70s dub.—
Andrew Ryce,
Pitchfork,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Krawiec said those services help her focus on school without feeling ashamed for asking for help.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
15 Dec. 2025
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Sarah’s sister, the missing girl’s mother, prays with desperate hope for her own child, yet feels ashamed—a heartbreakingly human reaction in the face of such horror.—
Nuri Kino,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 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
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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 so far has raised over $30,000 in donations, with a goal of $35,000 to cover funeral costs and to support Kaleigh and Christopher’s four children.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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The Avila family has also started a GoFundMe to help pay for the funeral and medical bills for Perla.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2026
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
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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 11 Jan. 2026.
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