remorse

[ri-mawrs]

noun

1. deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; compunction.

   Synonyms: contrition

2. Obsolete.,  pity; compassion.

remorse

/ rɪˈmɔːs /

noun

1. a sense of deep regret and guilt for some misdeed

2. compunction; pity; compassion

Other Word Forms

• preremorse noun
• remorsefully adverb
• remorseful adjective
• remorsefulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of remorse¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English from Middle French remors from Medieval Latin remorsus, past participle of Latin remordēre, “to bite back, vex, nag,” equivalent to Latin re- re- + mordēre “to bite” ( mordant )

Word History and Origins

Origin of remorse¹

C14: from Medieval Latin remorsus a gnawing, from Latin remordēre to bite again, from _re- + mordēre to bite

Synonym Study

See regret.

Example Sentences

Penelope, who still felt remorse about the unpaid hotel and taxi bills she had left behind in Russia, was doubly committed to making sure the good fortune.teller’s expenses were settled promptly.

Read more on Literature

"Neither she nor the party has apologised or shown any remorse for the killings of hundreds of people."

Read more on BBC

Under Justice Department standards and requirements, people seeking pardons generally must wait five years after their release from incarceration, demonstrate good conduct and remorse, and file petitions through the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

Read more on Salon

However, Israel's opposition leader and former prime minister, Yair Lapid, wrote on X: "Reminder: Israeli law stipulates that the first condition for receiving a pardon is an admission of guilt and an expression of remorse."

Read more on BBC

The only sign of remorse in our conversation was when he talked about a ransomware attack on a disabled children's charity.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• anguish 
• compassion 
• contrition 
• grief 
• guilt 
• penance 
• pity 
• regret 
• repentance 
• shame 
• sorrow