regretful about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "regretful about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing feelings of sorrow or disappointment regarding a specific situation or action. Example: "She felt regretful about not attending her friend's wedding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

"In my mind, there's nothing to be regretful about," Holik said before tonight's game.

The New York Times - Sports

Jacobellis has never publicly seemed overly regretful about the blunder.

The New York Times - Sports

I am deeply ashamed and regretful about this incident," Mr Bo said.

Independent

"I'm still hugely regretful about it and I still haven't heard a peep out of them.

Independent

She was regretful about being arrested; in fact, she collapsed from nervousness at one court hearing.

The New York Times - Magazine

Having lived in the area since the 1990s, Battye is somewhat regretful about Shoreditch's transformation.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

"I was regretful over about 5percentt of what we did," he said.

The New York Times

The long indictment against Ravi can be seen as a kind of regretful commentary about the absence of such statutes.

The New Yorker

He also acknowledged making "inaccurate and regretful" statements about Georgia's response at an earlier press conference.

The Guardian

They were, after all, the only things standing between many visitors and incomprehension — or in the case of at least one, regretful musing about the number of beers he could have had for the price of admission.

The New York Times

If his regretful observation about leaving home encapsulates the theme of the film, directed by the noted Russian animator and documentarian Andrey Khrzhanovsky, it doesn't capture its vitality.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "regretful about", clearly specify the action or situation causing the regret to provide context and clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "regretful for" instead of "regretful about". The correct preposition to use with "regretful" in this context is "about".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "regretful about" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition. It modifies a noun or pronoun, expressing a feeling of sorrow or remorse regarding a specific action, event or situation. Ludwig confirms its validity and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "regretful about" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express sorrow or disappointment concerning a specific situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for diverse contexts and can be replaced with alternative expressions like "sorry about" or "remorseful concerning". When using "regretful about", be sure to specify the cause of the regret to ensure clarity. Avoid the common error of using "regretful for". Ludwig's examples show the phrase's broad applicability across news, media, and personal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remorseful concerning

Replaces "regretful" with "remorseful" and "about" with "concerning", altering the specific word choice while retaining the core meaning.

sorry regarding

Substitutes "regretful" with the simpler "sorry" and "about" with "regarding", resulting in a less formal tone.

ashamed concerning

Replaces "regretful" with "ashamed" and "about" with "concerning", indicating a stronger sense of guilt.

contrite about

Uses "contrite" instead of "regretful", suggesting deep remorse and repentance.

rueful about

Replaces "regretful" with "rueful", implying a blend of regret and amusement.

apologetic about

Suggests a sense of needing to apologize rather than just feeling regret.

penitent regarding

Substitutes "regretful" with "penitent" and "about" with "regarding", expressing a formal and serious sense of remorse.

disappointed regarding

Uses "disappointed" in place of "regretful" and "regarding" instead of "about", lessening the emotional intensity.

sad about

Replaces "regretful" with the simpler term "sad", reducing the complexity of the emotion.

unhappy about

Replaces "regretful" with "unhappy", indicating a general feeling of dissatisfaction.

FAQs

How can I use "regretful about" in a sentence?

You can use "regretful about" to express sorrow or disappointment regarding something. For example, "She was "regretful about" not attending the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "regretful about"?

Alternatives include "sorry about", "ashamed of", or "remorseful concerning", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "regretful for" instead of "regretful about"?

While "regretful" can occasionally be followed by "for" in different constructions, in the context of expressing remorse concerning something, "regretful about" is the standard and more appropriate choice.

What's the difference between feeling "regretful about" something and feeling "guilty about" something?

Feeling "regretful about" something generally implies sorrow or disappointment that something happened or didn't happen. Feeling "guilty about" something suggests a sense of responsibility for a wrongdoing or offense.