regrettable
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of regrettable
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Middle French regret(t)able; see regret, -able
Explanation
Regrettable describes things that make you feel sorry. Letting your sister borrow your own snow shovel became a regrettable decision the moment the big storm started. Actions and events are regrettable if they result in feelings of regret, or if they're unwelcome or undesirable. Wearing your least comfortable shoes on a walking tour of Paris will be a regrettable choice if blisters form on your toes. Remember, regrettable describes things like decisions, actions or words. Regretful is for describing people and feelings that express regret.
Vocabulary lists containing regrettable
The Magician's Nephew
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Spelling Practice 1, Unit 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Regrettable and deplorable as Gen. Tomer-Yerushalmi’s misconduct may be, it is unclear why the lesson of this affair should be the undermining of Israel’s legal system.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025
Regrettable defending by RB Leipzig there; there’s no reason to let a little guy split your defense to win a header.
From New York Times • Aug. 18, 2020
Regrettable as the sale of Jefferson’s slaves was, it indirectly gave us a view into the private life of a very public president.
From Washington Post • Mar. 2, 2018
Take a walk on the villainous side, with the author of “The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains: Oddball Criminals From Comic Book History.”
From Seattle Times • Mar. 24, 2017
Under a smaller headline—which would only find a place on a Brazilian sheet—"A Regrettable Incident"—an item of more direct importance was printed.
From Astounding Stories of Super-Science, May, 1930 by Bates, Harry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
