regret
Hindsight's bitter fruit
Regret is the feeling of sorrow or disappointment over something that happened or failed to happen: I regret not spending more time with my father.
As a noun, it names this feeling: She felt a pang of regret.
In formal contexts, regret expresses polite refusal or apology: We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful.
The plural regrets often appears in declining invitations: Please send my regrets.
Deep emotional distress
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- sadnessState of emotional pain
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
anguish · woe · melancholy · grief · bitterness · pang · contrition · penitence
Recognition after the fact
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- what-ifHypothetical scenario query
- second-guessingReconsidering a decision made
reconsideration · brooding · dwelling · replaying · self-examination · overthinking · rehashing · mulling
Longing for the past
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- piningAching with prolonged desire
bygone · bittersweet · memory · reminiscence · past · lament · wishing
Unit of teaching
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
insight · self-awareness · understanding · maturity · perspective · growth · acceptance · closure
Expressing regret or apology
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
reconciliation · acknowledgment · redress · reparation · repentance
sorrow
Deep emotional distress
heartache · anguish · woe · melancholy · grief · bitterness · pang · contrition · penitence · compunction
hindsight
Recognition after the fact
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- what-ifHypothetical scenario query
second-guessing · reconsideration · brooding · dwelling · replaying · self-examination · overthinking · rehashing · mulling · self-questioning
nostalgia
Longing for the past
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- longingIntense, persistent desire
pining · bygone · bittersweet · memory · reminiscence · past · lament · wishing
lesson
Unit of teaching
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
experience · insight · self-awareness · understanding · maturity · perspective · growth · acceptance · closure · resolution
sorry
Expressing regret or apology
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
apology · reconciliation · acknowledgment · redress · reparation · repentance
mistake
Wrong action or decision
misstep · error · blunder · lapse · failing · misjudgment · aftermath · repercussion · fallout · price
- emotionsjoy, anger, fear, sadness, love
- expresion emocionaljoy, sadness, anger, fear, love
- bad feelingssadness, anger, fear, grief, sorrow
- emotional statesgrief, hope, despair, jealousy, trust
- emotional strugglesinner turmoil, inner conflict, emotional pain, heartbreak, sadness
- ethical consequencesguilt, shame, remorse, blame, punishment
regretsatisfaction
State of fulfilled desires
pride · contentment · gratitude · fulfillment · peace of mind
regretremorselessness
State of feeling no regret
impenitence · shamelessness · callousness · unrepentance · hardheartedness
- no regretsComplete peace with decisions
- live to regretExperience future remorse
- regrets onlyReply only when declining
- send regrets
- I regretExpression of remorse
- with regretFeeling sorry afterward
regretful, regrets, regrettable, regretting, regretted, regretfully, regrettably, unregretted