Synonyms

regretful

American

[ri-gret-fuhl] / rɪˈgrɛt fəl /

adjective

full of regret; sorrowful because of what is lost, gone, or done.

Other Word Forms

regretfully adverb
regretfulness noun
unregretful adjective
unregretfully adverb
unregretfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of regretful

First recorded in 1640–50; regret + -ful

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.

It’s an idiosyncratic decision, no doubt also affected by the galleries’ footprint, but a regretful one.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

The other night, I bumped into a fellow parent at an ice cream shop and when I asked how he was, he said, with a regretful smile, “depends on the day.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2025

She said: "I was not in post at the time but those who I have spoken to are deeply regretful about what happened."

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2025

While these could be the regretful words of any American voter in the aftermath of November’s election, they originate from a more bewildering source, if you can believe it.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2025

A person who’s fij.ll of regret is regretful, and sighs regretfully.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023