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remorse

remorse

156 4.5
A deep, painful feeling of regret and guilt after doing something wrong
  • noun
  • /rɪˈmɔrs/
translation icon : remordimiento
  • Don't you feel remorse for what you have done?
  • guilt and remorse
  • express remorse
  • show remorse

They don't feel remorse, they just don't feel OK.

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Examples

  • She felt a deep remorse for lying to her best friend.

  • Does his remorse make it easier for me?

  • Are you suffering from buyer's remorse or something?

  • Lily thought of the rule: Did the defendant show remorse for his or her actions?

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Five of the six mothers showed remorse and a sense of responsibility for their role in the placement.

    Academic text (2006)
  • You know, Ferrie was the only one to express any kind of remorse about the whole thing.

  • Well, I see that you're overwhelmed with remorse.

  • John's devastated, racked with remorse and totally cut off from his friends.

  • I can't imagine him tormenting himself with guilt and remorse the way I do.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • After realizing the pain he caused, he was filled with remorse for his actions.

Synonyms

shame
vsremorse
418 2.3

A painful feeling of guilt and embarrassment about something you did wrong

is focused more on inner painful guilt than public disgrace
guilt
vsremorse
375 2.4

A feeling of being sorry and responsible for doing something wrong

is deeper and more painful than this broader sense of responsibility
repentance
vsremorse
31 6.6

A feeling of deep regret and a wish to change after doing wrong

is richer in painful feeling and not necessarily linked to change
contrition
vsremorse
  • Formal
19 8.4

A deep feeling of regret and sorrow for something you did wrong

is equally deep but focuses more on personal pain than ritual feeling
guilty conscience
vsremorse
16 4.2

A feeling of being sorry and worried after doing something wrong

is more intense and painfully personal than that general inner feeling
compunction
vsremorse
  • Formal
10 9.6

A feeling of guilt that stops you from doing something bad or follows it

is stronger emotional pain felt after a wrongdoing rather than a warning
pang of guilt
vsremorse
1 6.1

A sudden sharp feeling of regret about something you did or did not do

is more sustained and profoundly painful rather than a brief jolt
twinge of guilt
vsremorse
1 5.0

A sudden sharp feeling of guilt

is deeper and more lasting rather than a passing sensation
guilt feelings
vsremorse
1 3.9

Feeling sorry and responsible for doing something wrong

is more acute and emotionally painful than these ordinary feelings
guiltiness
vsremorse
1 4.9

A feeling that you did something wrong or illegal

is the painful emotional experience rather than the factual state
self-reproach
vsremorse
1 7.1

A feeling of blaming yourself for something you did wrong

is a deeper painful emotion rather than the act of self-blame
contriteness
vsremorse
  • Formal
8.4

A deep feeling of regret and sorrow for doing something wrong

is more about intense personal pain than motive or fear
guilt pang
vsremorse
7.0

A sudden strong feeling of being sorry for something you did

is deeper and longer lasting rather than a quick sudden spike
ruefulness
vsremorse
8.4

A feeling of sadness and regret about a past mistake

is more intensely moral and painfully personal than mere sadness

Antonyms

71 4.6

Lack of interest or concern about something

Not feeling sorry or guilty for something bad you did

Compounds

A feeling of regret after you give something to someone for money

How Remorseful

contrition
  • Formal
19 8.4
remorse
156 4.5
penitence
4 7.9

Surface Forms

remorse singular
remorses plural

Etymology

Remorse comes from the Latin parts re- 'again' and mordere 'to bite', so it originally meant being 'bitten again' by guilt. That's why Remorse is a deep, painful feeling of regret that keeps 'biting' you and coming back.