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regretful

regretful

9 2.9
Feeling sorry for something you did or said
  • adjective
  • /rɪˈɡrɛtfəl/
translation icon : arrepentido
  • - Can I ask what it is that you're so deeply regretful about?

They express a kind of not regretful attitude, but it's sort of rueful.

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Examples

  • After realizing her mistake, she felt regretful for not listening to her friends' advice.

  • Maester Tapinza is not Daddy. "Are you sure?" He sounded a bit regretful.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • I was so regretful that I lost so much chances in my life to be a nice person.

  • The President had been regretful, but his usual cool self.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Don't feel regretful or guilty about the past, or worry about the future.

  • Jim got a grim little smile of regretful satisfaction on his face.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Chris turned toward her apologetically, expecting to see her looking at the house with regretful nostalgia.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Halo Home is deeply regretful about the grief Irwin has brought to your family.

  • Save the apologies for when you're actually regretful; they'll be more meaningful that way.

    Blog text (2)
  • Me?" The Amyrlin gestured slightly as if tossing something away, but she looked regretful to lose it.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

sorry
vsregretful
1.0

Feeling regret for something you did

is more reflective adding a wish that events had been different
sad
vsregretful
1.0

Feeling unhappy or upset because of something

specifies regret or sorrow tied to past events and wishing they were different
bad
vsregretful
733 1.0

Feeling sorry or guilty about something

is broader applying to regret without a specific sense of guilt
remorseful
vsregretful
18 4.6

Feeling very sorry for doing something that hurt someone

is less focused on moral fault and more on wanting past events changed
sorrowful
vsregretful
14 3.6

Feeling very sad because of loss or disappointment

centers on regret about past actions and wishing things had been different
contrite
vsregretful
13 8.1

Feeling very sorry for doing something wrong and wanting forgiveness

is broader covering regret beyond deep penitence for wrong acts
repentant
vsregretful
8 4.8

Feeling sorry about something you did and wanting to make it right

is wider covering regret for events not only moral failings
rueful
vsregretful
5 7.8

Feeling sorry about something you did and showing it

focuses on wishing past events had been different rather than mere sorrow
apologetical
vsregretful
7.2

Showing that you are sorry for something

is more about feeling sorrow or wishing things had been different rather than apology

Antonyms

285 1.3

Pleased because you achieved something or got the result you wanted

18 7.5

Not feeling sorry for something and not wanting to change

How Regretful

contrite
13 8.1
remorseful
18 4.6
regretful
9 2.9
rueful
5 7.8
sorry
1.0

Surface Forms

regretful positive
regretfuler comparative
regretfulest superlative

Morphology

regretful = regret (transparent) = regret + ful

The adjective is a straightforward '-ful' formation meaning 'full of regret', so its meaning is directly derived from 'regret'.

Etymology

The word regretful comes from the older word regret, which comes from a root that meant 'to grieve' and is related to the everyday word grieve. So someone who is regretful is 'feeling sorry' or sad about something they wish had been different.