regrettable

adjective

re·​gret·​ta·​ble ri-ˈgre-tə-bəl 

: deserving regret

Synonyms

• unfortunate
• tragic
• tragical

Examples of regrettable in a Sentence

His decision to quit is regrettable.

It was a regrettable mistake.

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite its regrettable title, 2022's Scream (why not 5cream??) ranks solidly as the third-place holder for the best of the franchise. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Johnson described the brawl as regrettable but also inevitable given how much hatred, pressure and pride get packed into a single game. —Austin Meek, New York Times, 7 July 2025

But instead of canceling the series after a regrettable first season, the network surprised everybody by completely retooling the show and bringing it back for a make-or-break season 2. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 July 2025

And because people still need protein, cannibalism is making a regrettable comeback. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 1 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for regrettable

• wettable
• forgettable
• unforgettable

Kids Definition

regrettable

adjective

re·​gret·​ta·​ble ri-ˈgret-ə-bəl 

: deserving regret