regretful
UK: /rɪˈɡret.fəl/ | US: /rɪˈɡret.fəl/
adj. feeling or expressing sorrow or remorse for a wrongdoing or missed opportunity
adj. causing or deserving regret; unfortunate
The word "regretful" combines "regret," derived from Old French regreter (to lament, feel sorrow), with the suffix "-ful," meaning "full of." The Old French term likely stems from a Germanic root grētan (to weep), reflecting the emotional weight of remorse. Over time, "regret" evolved to denote sorrow for past actions, and "-ful" transformed it into an adjective describing someone characterized by such feelings.
She gave a regretful sigh after realizing her mistake.
His regretful tone showed he truly understood the consequences.
It was a regretful decision to leave the job without another offer.
The team felt regretful about losing the championship by one point.
He wrote a regretful letter apologizing for his behavior.