buyer's remorse

American  

[bahy-erz ri-mawrs] / ˈbaɪ ərz rɪˈmɔrs /

Also buyer remorse

noun

1. a sense of regret or uneasiness after having purchased a house, car, or other major item, especially when the acquisition involves an ongoing financial burden.

   We love our vacation property, but it took two years to get over our buyer’s remorse.

2. a sense of regret after having committed to an endorsement, policy, plan of action, etc..

   Congressional leaders expressed buyer’s remorse after overriding the president’s veto.

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Etymology

Origin of buyer's remorse

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

However, there is evidence of buyer's remorse through their opening of negotiations with Cricket Australia over an agreement to guarantee better preparation on future Ashes tours.

From BBC • Dec. 21, 2025

Amazon isn’t oblivious to the buyer’s remorse that can follow too much impulse purchasing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Ah, the dreaded buyer’s remorse, which in this case means booking a cruise during the Black Friday period only to find out there’s a price drop or a better deal later.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 26, 2025

Companies that had spent big, to say the least, on Nvidia semiconductors could have buyer’s remorse if it becomes clear that less expensive chips can perform equally well.

From Barron's • Nov. 24, 2025

Some come back to the store the next morning accompanied by a whack of buyer's remorse.

From Ebooks: Neither E, Nor Books by Doctorow, Cory