Regret is a feeling most people experience at some point in life. You might regret turning down a job, saying something hurtful, missing an opportunity, or making a choice that did not work out as expected. The feeling can be mild disappointment or deep sorrow, depending on what happened.
However, not every word related to regret means exactly the same thing. Remorse often involves guilt about wrongdoing, while disappointment focuses on an outcome that did not meet expectations. Words such as rue and repentance have their own uses, too.
Learning synonyms for regret helps you express these feelings more clearly in conversations, essays, personal reflections, and professional writing.
Below are 50 words and related expressions, with simple meanings and examples to help you understand when each one fits.
Quick Answer
Some of the most useful synonyms for regret are remorse, sorrow, rue, repentance, contrition, compunction, and regretfulness.
Related words include guilt, disappointment, shame, and self-reproach, although each describes a slightly different feeling.
For example, remorse fits a situation in which you feel deeply sorry for hurting someone. Disappointment works when an outcome falls short of your hopes.
Rue is a more literary way to describe regretting a past action or decision.
50 Synonyms for Regret With Meanings and Examples
1. Remorse
Remorse means deep guilt and sorrow about something wrong you have done. It often involves recognizing that your actions hurt someone or caused harm.
Example: He felt remorse after realizing how much his words had hurt his friend.
2. Sorrow
Sorrow means deep sadness about a loss, mistake, or unhappy situation. It can accompany regret, though it does not always involve personal responsibility.
Example: She felt sorrow when she thought about the friendship that had ended.
3. Repentance
Repentance means feeling sorry for wrongdoing and wanting to change your behavior. It often includes a desire to make amends.
Example: His repentance was clear when he apologized and worked to repair the damage.
4. Rue
Rue is a verb meaning to regret something, especially a past action or decision. It is more common in literary writing than in everyday conversation.
Example: She would rue the day she ignored the warning.
5. Contrition
Contrition means sincere regret for doing something wrong. It often suggests humility and a willingness to accept responsibility.
Example: The student showed contrition after admitting that he had cheated.
6. Guilt
Guilt is the feeling that you have done something wrong or failed to meet a responsibility. It can occur alongside regret, but it focuses more on responsibility for the action.
Example: He felt guilt for not helping when his colleague needed him.
7. Disappointment
Disappointment is sadness caused by an outcome that did not meet your expectations. It may lead to regret about a decision, but it does not necessarily involve wrongdoing.
Example: She felt disappointment after learning that she had missed the application deadline.
8. Compunction
Compunction is a feeling of guilt or uneasiness about doing something wrong. It is often used in formal writing.
Example: He felt no compunction about taking credit for another person’s work.
9. Penitence
Penitence means sorrow for wrongdoing, often accompanied by a wish to show that the regret is sincere.
Example: His efforts to make things right reflected genuine penitence.
10. Self-Reproach
Self-reproach means criticizing or blaming yourself for something you did or failed to do.
Example: She struggled with self-reproach after forgetting her friend’s important event.
11. Repent
Repent is a verb meaning to feel sorry for wrongdoing and turn away from it. Unlike the noun repentance, it describes the act of feeling or expressing regret.
Example: He promised to repent and avoid making the same mistake again.
12. Regretfulness
Regretfulness is the state of feeling or expressing regret. It is less common than the word regret itself.
Example: Her regretfulness was evident in the letter she wrote after the argument.
13. Shame
Shame is a painful feeling that arises when you believe you have behaved badly or fallen short of an important standard.
Example: He felt shame after lying to someone who trusted him.
14. Sadness
Sadness is an unhappy feeling that may arise from loss, disappointment, or regret. It is a broad term and does not necessarily suggest guilt.
Example: She felt sadness when she remembered the opportunity she had turned down.
15. Heartache
Heartache means deep emotional pain, often caused by loss, conflict, or a difficult relationship.
Example: Their unresolved argument caused years of heartache.
16. Misgiving
A misgiving is a feeling of doubt or concern about a decision or situation. It often arises before a choice is made, rather than after regret develops.
Example: He had misgivings about signing the contract without reading it carefully.
17. Dissatisfaction
Dissatisfaction means being unhappy with a result, choice, or situation. It may describe how you feel about a decision you later regret.
Example: She expressed dissatisfaction with the way she had handled the interview.
18. Displeasure
Displeasure is a feeling of annoyance or unhappiness about something. It is related to regret only when the situation also involves wishing things had gone differently.
Example: He expressed displeasure with the outcome of the meeting.
19. Lament
Lament can be a verb meaning to express sorrow or regret about something. It is often used when discussing a loss or an unfortunate event.
Example: The coach lamented the missed chances that cost the team the match.
20. Lamentation
Lamentation is an expression of deep sorrow or grief. It is more formal and expressive than everyday words such as sadness.
Example: Her speech became a lamentation over the opportunities the community had lost.
21. Grief
Grief is deep sorrow, especially after the death of someone or another major loss. Regret can accompany grief when someone wishes they had acted differently.
Example: Along with grief, he felt regret about the conversations he had postponed.
22. Woe
Woe means great sadness or distress. It is often found in literary or dramatic writing.
Example: The poem describes his woe after a decision changed the course of his life.
23. Anguish
Anguish is intense emotional suffering. It can accompany regret when a person feels responsible for a painful outcome.
Example: She experienced anguish over the hurt her decision had caused her family.
24. Distress
Distress is strong worry, sadness, or emotional pain caused by a difficult situation.
Example: He was in distress after realizing that he had missed the deadline.
25. Suffering
Suffering means experiencing physical or emotional pain. It is related to regret when a past action contributes to someone’s hardship.
Example: He regretted the suffering his harsh words had caused.
26. Uneasiness
Uneasiness is a feeling of discomfort or worry about a situation or choice. It may be an early sign that a decision does not feel right.
Example: She felt uneasiness about accepting the offer before checking the details.
27. Self-Blame
Self-blame means holding yourself responsible for a problem or negative outcome. It may accompany regret, but excessive self-blame can overlook circumstances beyond your control.
Example: After the project failed, she blamed herself even though the whole team had made the decision.
28. Chagrin
Chagrin is distress or embarrassment caused by failure or an unwanted result. It can arise when you realize that a mistake could have been avoided.
Example: To her chagrin, she realized she had sent the unfinished report to her manager.
29. Mortification
Mortification means intense embarrassment or humiliation after a mistake or awkward event. Regret may accompany it when you wish you had acted differently.
Example: He felt mortification when he noticed the error in his presentation.
30. Embarrassment
Embarrassment is discomfort caused by an awkward moment, mistake, or unwanted attention.
Example: She felt embarrassment after interrupting the speaker by mistake.
31. Frustration
Frustration is annoyance or disappointment when something does not go as planned. It may lead you to regret how you handled a situation.
Example: He felt frustration after spending weeks on an approach that did not work.
32. Disquiet
Disquiet is a feeling of worry or uneasiness about a situation or decision. It is more formal than the everyday word worry.
Example: The lack of clear information caused disquiet about the agreement.
33. Concern
Concern is worry about a problem or possible outcome. It may accompany regret when you begin to think about the consequences of a past choice.
Example: She expressed concern about the consequences of her earlier decision.
34. Bitterness
Bitterness is a lasting feeling of hurt, resentment, or disappointment. It may develop after a painful experience, although it is not a direct synonym for regret.
Example: He carried bitterness about the opportunity he believed he had lost unfairly.
35. Nostalgia
Nostalgia is a sentimental longing for the past. It can bring regret about missed opportunities, but it can also be warm and pleasant.
Example: Looking at her old school photographs filled her with nostalgia for those days.
36. Second Thoughts
Second thoughts are doubts or reconsideration about a decision you have made or are about to make. They do not always mean that you regret the choice.
Example: He had second thoughts about buying the car after discovering its repair history.
37. Have Reservations
To have reservations means to feel uncertain or have concerns about a plan or decision.
Example: She had reservations about moving abroad without a clear job offer.
38. Feel Sorry
Feel sorry is an everyday expression that can describe regret, sympathy, or an apology. The exact meaning depends on the sentence.
Example: I feel sorry that I dismissed your idea without listening.
39. Wish You Had Chosen Differently
This phrase expresses regret about a decision. It is useful when you want a clear, natural alternative to the word regret.
Example: I wish I had chosen differently when I had the chance to study abroad.
40. Wish You Had Acted Differently
This expression describes regret about how you behaved in a past situation.
Example: He wished he had acted differently during the disagreement.
41. Feel Deep Remorse
This phrase describes strong guilt and sorrow about wrongdoing. It is suitable when the action caused harm or violated your values.
Example: She felt deep remorse for sharing her friend’s private information.
42. Be Filled With Regret
This expression means to experience strong regret about a past action, decision, or missed opportunity.
Example: He was filled with regret after turning down the scholarship.
43. Regret Over a Missed Opportunity
This phrase describes sadness about a chance that has passed. It is especially useful when discussing career, education, or personal goals.
Example: She felt regret over a missed opportunity to study abroad.
44. Regret Over Past Actions
This phrase describes sorrow or dissatisfaction about things you did in the past.
Example: He expressed regret over his past actions and apologized to the people he had hurt.
45. Repentance for Past Actions
This expression emphasizes sorrow about wrongdoing and a desire to change or make amends.
Example: His repentance for past actions led him to repair the damage he had caused.
46. Remorse Over a Mistake
This phrase focuses on deep guilt about a particular error or wrong action.
Example: She felt remorse over the mistake that had put her colleague in a difficult position.
47. Regret Making a Choice
This expression means wishing you had made a different decision.
Example: He began to regret making the choice without considering the costs.
48. Look Back With Regret
This phrase describes thinking about the past with sadness or dissatisfaction about what happened.
Example: She looked back with regret on the time she had spent avoiding an important conversation.
49. Feel a Sense of Loss
This expression describes sadness about something valuable that is gone or no longer possible. It may accompany regret but does not always imply a mistake.
Example: After leaving his hometown, he felt a sense of loss for the life he had known.
50. Wish Things Had Been Different
This everyday expression describes regret about a past event or outcome that cannot now be changed.
Example: She wished things had been different, but she was ready to move forward.
Synonyms for Regret and Guilt
Regret and guilt often occur together, but they describe different feelings.
- Regret: Wishing that an action, decision, or outcome had been different.
- Guilt: Feeling responsible for doing something wrong or failing to meet a responsibility.
- Remorse: Deep guilt and sorrow about wrongdoing.
- Repentance: Regret accompanied by a desire to change or make amends.
- Disappointment: Sadness when an outcome does not meet expectations.
For example, a student may regret choosing the wrong course because it was not a good fit. If the student cheated to pass the course, guilt or remorse would be more appropriate.
Another Word for Regretting a Decision
The best alternative depends on what you want to express.
- Have second thoughts: Reconsider a choice.
- Rue: Regret a decision, often in literary writing.
- Wish you had chosen differently: Express regret in everyday English.
- Reconsider: Think about a decision again; this does not necessarily mean you regret it.
- Look back with regret: Reflect sadly on a past choice.
Example: “I regret accepting the offer” can become “I wish I had considered the other offer more carefully.”
Another Word for Regret Deeply
When regret is especially strong, these expressions may fit:
- Deeply regret: A direct way to express strong regret.
- Feel profound remorse: Experience deep guilt about wrongdoing.
- Be filled with regret: Experience strong sadness about a past choice.
- Feel intense sorrow: Experience deep sadness about a loss or situation.
- Repent sincerely: Feel sorry for wrongdoing and want to change.
Example: “She deeply regretted her words” can also be written as “She felt profound remorse for the hurt her words had caused.”
Formal Synonyms for Regret in an Essay
In essays and academic writing, select a word that matches the reason for the feeling.
- Remorse: Strong guilt about wrongdoing.
- Contrition: Sincere sorrow for an offense or mistake.
- Repentance: Regret accompanied by a wish to change.
- Dissatisfaction: Unhappiness with a result or situation.
- Lament: Expressing sorrow about a loss or unwanted event.
- Rue: A literary verb for regretting an action or decision.
Example: Instead of writing “The character felt bad about his actions,” you could write “The character experienced remorse over the harm he had caused.”
Another Way to Say “I Regret to Inform You”
“I regret to inform you” is a formal phrase used to introduce disappointing or unwelcome news. These alternatives can sound more natural, depending on the situation:
- I’m sorry to inform you — polite and widely used.
- Unfortunately, I must inform you — formal and direct.
- I’m sorry to say that — professional but less stiff.
- It is with regret that I inform you — very formal.
- I’m afraid I have to tell you — conversational and polite.
Example: “I regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful” can become “I’m sorry to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.”
Regret Antonyms: What Is the Opposite of Regret?
There is no single opposite that fits every use of regret. The best antonym depends on the feeling you want to express.
- Satisfaction: Feeling pleased with a result or decision.
- Contentment: Feeling at ease with your circumstances.
- Relief: Feeling better because a worry or difficulty has passed.
- Gladness: Happiness about an event or outcome.
- Pride: Satisfaction in an achievement or action.
- Approval: A favorable opinion of a choice or action.
Example: “She regretted turning down the offer” contrasts with “She felt satisfied with the job she accepted.”
How to Choose the Right Synonym for Regret
Start by identifying the main feeling in your sentence.
- For guilt about wrongdoing, consider remorse, contrition, or compunction.
- For sadness about an outcome, consider sorrow, disappointment, or lament.
- For reconsidering a decision, try second thoughts or wish I had chosen differently.
- For formal writing, consider regret, remorse, repentance, or dissatisfaction, depending on the meaning.
- For a literary tone, rue or lament may be effective.
Not every word in this list is interchangeable with regret. For example, nostalgia is about longing for the past, while guilt is about feeling responsible for wrongdoing. Choosing a word that matches the situation makes your writing clearer and more precise.
FAQs
1. What is the best synonym for regret?
Remorse is a strong choice when regret involves guilt about wrongdoing. For general sadness about a past choice, sorrow or disappointment may be more suitable.
2. What is another word for regretting a decision?
You can say having second thoughts, wishing you had chosen differently, or rueing a decision. Having second thoughts suggests reconsideration and does not always mean the decision was wrong.
3. What is another word for regret deeply?
Try deeply regret, feel profound remorse, or be filled with regret. Use remorse when the feeling includes guilt about wrongdoing.
4. What is the difference between regret and remorse?
Regret is wishing that an action or outcome had been different. Remorse usually means deeper guilt and sorrow about something wrong you have done.
5. What is the difference between regret and guilt?
Regret focuses on wishing something had happened differently. Guilt focuses on feeling responsible for a wrong action or failure to meet a responsibility.
6. What are the antonyms of regret?
Depending on the context, antonyms include satisfaction, contentment, relief, gladness, and pride. The right choice depends on whether regret means sadness, dissatisfaction, or guilt.
7. What is a formal word for regret?
Remorse, contrition, repentance, and compunction are formal alternatives. Each has a slightly different meaning, so match the word to the situation.
8. How can I say “I regret” in an essay?
You can write “I regret,” “I now recognize my mistake,” “I wish I had acted differently,” or “I feel remorse for my actions.” In academic writing, keep the expression appropriate to the subject and tone.
9. What is another way to say “I regret to inform you”?
Common alternatives include “I’m sorry to inform you,” “Unfortunately, I must inform you,” and “It is with regret that I inform you.” Choose the one that sounds natural for your audience.
10. Is “rue” a synonym for regret?
Yes. Rue is a verb meaning to regret something. It is more literary and less common in everyday conversation than regret.
Conclusion
Regret can describe many feelings, from mild disappointment to deep sorrow about a past action.
Words such as remorse, guilt, repentance, contrition, and compunction are useful when wrongdoing is involved, while sorrow, disappointment, and lament fit other kinds of sadness.
For everyday writing, “wish I had chosen differently” is often clear and natural. In formal writing, a more precise word can make your meaning stronger.
Consider whether you are describing guilt, sadness, doubt, or a missed opportunity before selecting a synonym.
The right word helps readers understand not only that you regret something, but also why.
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