WordValeremorseful
deeply regretful for a wrong
In more detail
feeling or showing deep regret and sorrow for something wrong that you did
Examples
- He looked remorseful after breaking his friend's trust.
How to use remorseful
Remorseful emphasizes genuine, often deeply felt regret and is commonly used to describe someone's emotional state after wrongdoing, particularly in formal or literary contexts. It is stronger and more sincere-sounding than sorry, and implies acceptance of responsibility rather than mere apology. It is frequently used in legal, journalistic, or personal reflection contexts.
Common phrases
- remorseful about
- remorseful for
- deeply remorseful
- genuinely remorseful
- feel remorseful
Synonyms
contrite · penitent · apologetic · repentant · sorry
Opposites
unrepentant · unapologetic
Word family
remorse (noun) · remorselessly (adverb) · remorseless (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use remorseful to mean simply 'apologetic' without the implication of deep genuine regret; remorseful specifically suggests real inner sorrow and contrition, not just a surface-level apology.
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