If you are regretful, you show that you regret something.
Mr Griffin gave a regretful smile.
Surprisingly, she didn't feel nervous, or regretful about her actions.
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Synonyms: sorry, disappointed, sad, ashamed More Synonyms of regretful
regretfullyadverb
He shook his head regretfully.
Examples of 'regretful' in a sentence
regretful
A minute later the call was over, and John's smile was regretful as he turned to Colette.
Harcourt, Palma DOUBLE DECEIT (2002)
) `Nope,' Wesley sounded regretful, `just burned his palm very badly.
Nicola Barker BEHINDLINGS (2002)
Surprisingly, she didn't feel nervous, or regretful about her actions.
Lawson, Jonell ROSES ARE FOR THE RICH (2002)
(adjective)
He gave a regretful smile.
Synonyms
sorry
She was very sorry about all the trouble she'd caused.
disappointed
sad
It's a sad truth that so few people care about the environment.
ashamed
He was ashamed at how shabbily he had dressed for the occasion.
apologetic
The staff were very apologetic about the mistake.
mournful
the mournful wail of bagpipes
rueful
He shook his head and gave me a rueful smile.
contrite
He was so contrite that he wrote me a letter of apology.
sorrowful
His father's face looked suddenly soft and sorrowful.
repentant
a repentant criminal
remorseful
He was genuinely remorseful.
penitent
a penitent sinner
Usage note
Regretful and regretfully are sometimes wrongly used where regrettable and regrettably are meant. A simple way of making the distinction is that when you regret something YOU have done, you are regretful: he gave a regretful smile; he smiled regretfully. In contrast, when you are sorry about an occurrence you did not yourself cause, you view the occurrence as regrettable: this is a regrettable (not regretful) mistake; regrettably (not regretfully, i.e. because of circumstances beyond my control) I shall be unable to attend.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apologetic
Definition
showing or expressing regret
The staff were very apologetic about the mistake.
Synonyms
regretful,
sorry,
rueful,
contrite,
remorseful,
penitent
in the sense of ashamed
Definition
overcome with shame or remorse
He was ashamed at how shabbily he had dressed for the occasion.
Synonyms
embarrassed,
sorry,
guilty,
upset,
distressed,
shy,
humbled,
humiliated,
blushing,
self-conscious,
red-faced,
chagrined,
flustered,
mortified,
sheepish,
bashful,
prudish,
crestfallen,
discomfited,
remorseful,
abashed,
shamefaced,
conscience-stricken,
discountenanced
in the sense of contrite
Definition
full of guilt or regret
He was so contrite that he wrote me a letter of apology.
Synonyms
sorry,
humble,
chastened,
sorrowful,
repentant,
remorseful,
regretful,
penitent,
conscience-stricken,
in sackcloth and ashes
Nearby words of
regretful
register
regress
regret
regretful
regrettable
regroup
regular
Synonyms of 'regretful'
regretful
Explore 'regretful' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mournful
Definition
(of a sound) suggestive or reminiscent of grief or sadness
the mournful wail of bagpipes
Synonyms
sad,
distressing,
unhappy,
tragic,
painful,
afflicting,
melancholy,
harrowing,
grievous,
woeful,
deplorable,
lamentable,
plaintive,
calamitous,
sorrowful,
piteous
in the sense of penitent
Definition
feeling regret for one's sins
a penitent sinner
Synonyms
repentant,
sorry,
apologetic,
abject,
atoning,
rueful,
contrite,
sorrowful,
remorseful,
regretful,
conscience-stricken
in the sense of remorseful
He was genuinely remorseful.
Synonyms
regretful,
sorry,
guilty,
sad,
ashamed,
apologetic,
chastened,
rueful,
contrite,
sorrowful,
repentant,
guilt-ridden,
penitent,
conscience-stricken,
self-reproachful
in the sense of repentant
a repentant criminal
Synonyms
regretful,
sorry,
ashamed,
apologetic,
chastened,
rueful,
contrite,
remorseful,
penitent,
self-reproachful
in the sense of rueful
Definition
feeling or expressing sorrow or regret
He shook his head and gave me a rueful smile.
Synonyms
regretful,
sad,
dismal,
melancholy,
grievous,
pitiful,
woeful,
sorry,
mournful,
plaintive,
lugubrious,
contrite,
sorrowful,
repentant,
doleful,
remorseful,
penitent,
pitiable,
woebegone,
conscience-stricken,
self-reproachful
in the sense of sad
Definition
deplorably bad
It's a sad truth that so few people care about the environment.
Synonyms
deplorable,
bad,
sorry,
terrible,
distressing,
unfortunate,
miserable,
dismal,
shabby,
heartbreaking,
regrettable,
lamentable,
wretched,
to be deplored
in the sense of sorrowful
His father's face looked suddenly soft and sorrowful.