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
Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The two end up drinking together, and the next morning, Rebecca wakes up in his bed, regretful of the one-night stand.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
Tsukasa is 26 and feeling a little wayward, regretful about his late start in figure skating.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
The crown prince also responded to the question about Khashoggi, acting regretful about the killing.
—NPR, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The two end up drinking together, and the next morning, Rebecca wakes up in his bed, regretful of the one-night stand.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
Tsukasa is 26 and feeling a little wayward, regretful about his late start in figure skating.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
The crown prince also responded to the question about Khashoggi, acting regretful about the killing.
—NPR, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regretful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regretful
Adjective
-
His family and friends are utterly heartbroken.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Like Sebek, Lincoln-Way co-op senior Zoe Dempsey was heartbroken not to win state in her final attempt.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
We were told that Operation Epstein Fury — sorry, Epic Fury — was needed to bring democracy to Iran and prevent an attack on us.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The judge reminded the courtroom that in the previous trial, Cox made a last-minute motion to self-represent to be able to tell the jury that Cox was sorry.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Newsom shakes his head, seeming more mournful than angry.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Many parents feel ashamed to ask for help, but reaching out builds connection and shows strength, not failure.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The mom finally revealed that her daughter was taking weight loss supplements but had been too ashamed to say so.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Melling’s scenes all took place in the objectively less exciting muggle universe, occurring along a fairly straightforward arc from spoiled bully to remorseful young adult.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
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This is because these remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing on my spirit.—
Anna Peele,
Vanity Fair,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Two people were killed at a funeral repast on Detroit's east side in late February.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Authorities will announce the funeral procession at a later date.—
Lee Ying Shan,Anniek Bao,Victor Loh,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In a lengthy and apologetic statement, Altman claimed that OpenAI was now altering the terms of its Pentagon deal to explicitly prohibit the use of its AI systems to surveil US citizens, exhibiting a degree of people-pleasing normally witnessed in its sycophantic chatbots.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
5 Mar. 2026
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For that, Waymo was apologetic.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Regretful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regretful. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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