Profound regret

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Profound regret" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a deep sense of sorrow or remorse about a situation or action. Example: "After reflecting on my decisions, I felt a profound regret for the choices I made that hurt others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

To his profound regret, she left with the rest.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The government expresses its profound regret over this incident.

The New York Times

MI5 today expressed "profound regret" for failing to prevent the 7/7 bombings.

Independent

Many Libyans outside the hospital also offered condolences and expressed profound regret for America's loss.

The New York Times

"I am left with the profound regret that I did not know her better".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This should be a source of profound regret for anyone who cares about cricket.

The Guardian - Sport

She told him she accepted his resignation 'with the most profound regret'.

The Guardian

"I wish to convey to the Philippine government and people my profound regret over the grounding of the U.S.S.

The New York Times

"I offer my profound regret and deepest condolences to the victims and their families," General Allen said in his statement.

The New York Times

Instead of its call for an apology for past injustices, he wanted an expression of "sorrow and profound regret".

The Economist

The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement in which Foreign Minister Shimon Peres "expressed profound regret" over Mr. Ciriello's death.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "profound regret", ensure the context clearly indicates the cause of the regret to provide clarity and sincerity to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "profound regret" in situations where the speaker or writer's actions contradict the expression of remorse. Overuse can diminish the phrase's impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "profound regret" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It is often used as the object of a verb, such as "express" or "feel", to indicate a deep and significant sense of sorrow or remorse. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase as grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

4%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "profound regret" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express a deep sense of sorrow or remorse. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English across various contexts, particularly in news and media, and formal communications. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context clearly defines the cause of the regret to maintain sincerity and avoid overuse in insincere situations. Alternatives such as "deep sorrow" or "sincere remorse" can be considered based on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Deep regret

Omits the intensifier, making it slightly less emphatic. The two sentences are basically synonymous.

Sincere remorse

Highlights the genuineness of the regret and feeling of responsibility for a wrong action. It focuses on being sorry and wanting to repent for actions.

Profound sadness

Stresses the depth of sorrow felt, potentially related to a regretful situation. It focuses on the sorrow more than the negative action that caused it.

Deep sorrow

Emphasizes the depth of sadness, focusing more on the emotional pain than the regret itself. It focuses only on the sadness instead of on the negative actions.

Heartfelt apology

Emphasizes the sincerity of an apology, which may stem from regret. It focuses mostly on the will to offer an apology and show how sorry one is.

Great disappointment

Focuses on the feeling of unmet expectations, rather than a specific action or inaction. This doesn't mean that the negative actions are necessarily the source of the disappointment.

Utter dismay

Indicates a strong feeling of shock and distress, often in response to unexpected bad news. This doesn't mean that there is time to be sorry about past actions.

Acute distress

Highlights the severity of emotional or mental suffering, which might be caused by regret. It focuses on the reaction to negative actions.

Intense grief

Refers to a deep sorrow typically caused by a loss, which may or may not involve regret. It is used in circumstances where negative action by the person isn't always the cause.

Serious misgivings

Implies a sense of doubt or anxiety about something that has happened or might happen. The uncertainty is the major thing.

FAQs

How to use "profound regret" in a sentence?

You can use "profound regret" to express deep sorrow or remorse about a situation or action. For example, "I felt a "profound regret" for my mistakes".

What can I say instead of "profound regret"?

You can use alternatives like "deep sorrow", "sincere remorse", or "great disappointment" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "profound regret" or "deeply regret"?

"Profound regret" is a noun phrase expressing deep sorrow, while "deeply regret" is a verb phrase indicating the action of feeling regret. Both are correct, but used differently. For example: "I have "profound regret"" versus "I "deeply regret" my actions."

What's the difference between "profound regret" and "profound disappointment"?

"Profound regret" implies sorrow specifically about something one has done or failed to do, while "profound disappointment" refers to a feeling of sadness about unmet expectations or failure to achieve a desired outcome. Regret is specifically for past actions, disappointment is for a lack of results.