remorse
Americannoun
-
deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; compunction.
- Synonyms:
- contrition
-
Obsolete. pity; compassion.
noun
-
a sense of deep regret and guilt for some misdeed
-
compunction; pity; compassion
Synonym Usage
See regret.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of remorse
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” ( see mordant)
Explanation
Remorse, a noun, is what you feel if you regret your actions or wish for another outcome. The noun remorse has a very vivid origin. It comes from the Latin roots re for "again" and mordere "to bite." So, if you feel remorse, it means that your conscience is working on you, your past actions are biting you back, and making you feel very regretful. Synonyms for this word are "penitence," "rue," and "contrition." If you took a cookie from the cookie jar and ate it you can't return it; all you can feel is remorse for what you did!
Vocabulary lists containing remorse
Spider-Man's Word Web
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 20–25
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"Marriage is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe
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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.
In an interview with NBC4, the neighbor who called police expressed remorse for making the call.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2026
He claimed the letter related to "remorse about other things".
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
Abdulmohsen showed "no remorse, regret or introspection whatsoever", Boettchner told the court.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
In the boy’s file, Hodson wrote that Rudakubana was “cold and calculating” and had expressed no remorse or emotions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
Its tone of both remorse and defiance was to be an inspiration to the Humanist theologian and scholar Erasmus and the soon-to-be founder of Protestantism, Martin Luther.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
