Synonyms of regrettable

regrettable

adjective

ri-ˈgre-tə-bəl 

as in unfortunate

of a kind to cause great distress

the explorers forged ahead despite the regrettable loss of some of their companions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unfortunate
• tragic
• terrible
• lamentable
• deplorable
• horrible
• shocking
• distressing
• disturbing
• grievous
• unlucky
• painful
• woeful
• sad
• disastrous
• distressful
• awful
• unsettling
• dire
• heartbreaking
• troublesome
• sickening
• dreadful
• pitiful
• miserable
• fearful
• unbearable
• severe
• vexatious
• traumatic
• heartrending
• alarming
• poignant
• overwhelming
• horrifying
• wretched
• intolerable
• doleful
• crushing
• piteous
• moving
• affecting
• touching
• calamitous
• excruciating
• harrowing
• perturbing
• ruthful
• sharp
• raging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gratifying
• satisfying
• rewarding
• pleasing
• encouraging
• heartening
• comforting
• inspiring
• happy
• fortunate
• lucky
• heartwarming
• cheering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of regrettable

Watson added another regrettable chapter to his legacy by proceeding to bemoan his treatment by the crowd at Huntington Bank Field following Saturday's outing. — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Forcing tenants out is not a regrettable side effect of a broken housing system. — Anisha Steephen, Time, 21 July 2026

Knife sets, coffee cups, and baking dishes round out the non-regrettable basics to pick up. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Other teams signed players to regrettable max contracts after missing out on Durant. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026