Synonyms for
Regret
Definition
to feel sad or sorry about something that has happened or something that you have done
Synonyms & similar words
Synonyms by register
Formal
Informal
Antonyms
Common collocations
- deep regret
- profound regret
- regret deeply
- express regret
- no regret
- regret the decision
- regret to inform
Word family
Usage note
Regret often implies a wish that something had not happened or been done. 'Regret to inform' is a common formal phrase used to deliver bad news.
Example sentences
- I regret not studying for my test.
- She regretted saying mean things to her friend.
- He will regret quitting his job.
- They regretted not taking the opportunity.
- We regret not traveling more when we were younger.
Quotes
“I have no regrets in my life. I think that everything happens to you for a reason. The hard times that you go through build character, making you a much stronger person.” - Rita Mero
“Regret is a form of punishment itself.” - Nassim Nicholas Taleb
“Regret comes in all shapes and sizes. Some are small like when we do a bad thing for a good reason. Some are bigger like when you let down a friend. Some of us escape the pain of regret by making the right choice. Some of us have little time for regret because we're looking forward to the future. Sometimes we have to fight to come to terms with the past, and sometimes we bury our regret by promising to change our ways. But our biggest regrets are not for the things we did but for the things we didn't do. Things we didn't say that could've saved someone that we care about. Especially when we can see the dark storm that's headed their way.” - Hilary Swank