Synonyms of regretfully

regretfully

adverb

ri-ˈgret-fə-lē 

as in sadly

with feelings of bitterness or grief

I must regretfully inform you that you are not among those who have been accepted for our internship program

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sadly
• bitterly
• sorrowfully
• painfully
• mournfully
• hard
• unhappily
• ruefully
• sharply
• woefully
• dolefully
• resentfully
• harshly
• grievously
• plaintively
• sorely
• lugubriously
• agonizingly
• dolorously
• wailfully
• wretchedly
• severely
• inconsolably
• hardly
• dejectedly
• despairingly
• despondently
• dispiritedly
• abjectly
• cheerlessly
• glumly
• sullenly
• somberly
• disconsolately
• miserably
• forlornly
• dismally
• pessimistically
• morosely
• distressfully
• gloomily
• darkly
• poignantly
• acutely
• distressingly
• dourly
• drearily
• joylessly
• keenly
• mirthlessly
• cruelly
• ill
• blackly
• downheartedly
• crestfallenly
• hurtfully
• piercingly
• low-spiritedly
• rancorously

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gladly
• happily
• joyfully
• blissfully
• joyously
• cheerfully
• gleefully
• delightedly
• merrily
• cheerily
• gaily
• lightheartedly
• easily
• casually
• calmly
• lightly
• blithely
• indifferently
• stoically
• nonchalantly
• dispassionately
• unconcernedly
• impassively
• mirthfully
• well
• sunnily
• good-naturedly
• rejoicingly
• favorably
• blithesomely

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of regretfully

Teenagers look around and see adults thinking back on the year, whether wistfully, regretfully, triumphantly or gratefully. — Dr. Marlena Corcoran, Forbes.com, 29 Dec. 2025

The polite way to decline an invite to a wedding is to wish them well, thank them for inviting you and regretfully decline. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

Both bravely and regretfully, Daniel shared how those feelings led him to treat his friends poorly. — Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2024

But the situation is regretfully seeing two conflicting claims from the two parties. — Jade Gomez, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024