remorseful

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'remorseful' is correct and is commonly used in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who feels deep regret or sorrow for something they have done. Example: The thief felt remorseful for his crime, so he turned himself in to the authorities.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Flowers was remorseful, he said, and continued to seek professional help for his problems.

The Guardian

He described his client, Chuck, the convicted party, as a "kind, remorseful and spiritual man".

The Guardian

– but every time I faced that choice, I thought briefly of my remorseful troll.

The Guardian

Didn't mean to upset anyone" – follow up tweet from a remorseful Stephen Fry "Please make it stop #bbcjubilee" – tweet from comedian Julian Clary "It's the perfect summer's day!

The Guardian

This harsh provision is compounded by a law stipulating that second-degree murderers should serve a minimum of 15 years in prison, no matter how immature, remorseful or otherwise deserving of leniency they may be.

The Economist

The pair received amnesty from the TRC for other crimes but did not admit at the time to giving the orders to have Mr Chikane's underwear laced with poison, which almost killed him.Last year, a remorseful Mr Vlok washed Mr Chikane's feet in a very public display of contrition.

The Economist

As a veteran of D-Day, I felt remorseful at the time (but not guilty) for the actions of allied bombers for making human torches out of thousands of Social Democrats, in Hamburg and elsewhere, who had fought bitterly against Nazi street gangs for several decades.

The Economist

Then there are the faux-contrite bankers, the remorseful policeman who exposed top-secret counter-terrorist plans and still more improbable penitents.The London Evening Standard, the capital's main newspaper, has launched an unusual, self-lacerating advertising campaign.

The Economist

But he was always remorseful, genuinely modest and witty at his own expense.

The Economist

Their government wants to be remorseful without exposing itself to a never-ending battery of claims.

The Economist

The fact that these candidates must also try to appeal to both hawkish Republican-primary voters and the more remorseful general voting public merely complicates matters.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "remorseful" to convey a genuine feeling of sorrow and regret, particularly when the person expressing it acknowledges their wrongdoing and its impact on others.

Common error

Avoid using "remorseful" when you mean "sympathetic". "Remorseful" implies regret for one's own actions, while "sympathetic" means understanding and caring about someone else's suffering.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "remorseful" is as an adjective. It modifies a noun, describing someone or something as feeling or expressing deep regret or sorrow for having done something wrong. Ludwig AI provides examples of this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "remorseful" functions as an adjective to describe a state of deep regret or sorrow, most commonly in neutral and formal contexts like news and media. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical usage and widespread appearance in reputable sources. When seeking alternatives, consider "regretful", "apologetic", or "penitent", bearing in mind the slight nuances in meaning. A key writing tip is to avoid confusing "remorseful" with "sympathetic". Usage of "remorseful" aims to convey genuine acknowledgment of wrongdoing, as observed in Ludwig's examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Regretful

A general term indicating sorrow or disappointment over something that has happened.

Contrite

Suggests deep sorrow and repentance for one's sins or wrongdoings.

Penitent

Emphasizes a formal sense of regret and a desire for atonement.

Repentant

Signifies a turning away from past wrongdoings with a commitment to change.

Rueful

Implies a mournful or regretful tone, often with a hint of resignation.

Apologetic

Focuses on expressing regret through apologies and seeking forgiveness.

Guilty

Indicates a feeling of responsibility for a wrongdoing.

Ashamed

Highlights the feeling of embarrassment and disgrace due to one's actions.

Sorrowful

Expresses deep sadness and grief, often related to past events.

Chagrined

Implies feeling distressed or humiliated due to failure or disappointment.

FAQs

How to use "remorseful" in a sentence?

You can use "remorseful" to describe someone who feels deep regret or sorrow for something they have done. For example, "The thief felt "remorseful" for his crime, so he turned himself in to the authorities."

What can I say instead of "remorseful"?

You can use alternatives like "regretful", "apologetic", or "penitent" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "remorseful" or "remorseless"?

"Remorseful" means feeling regret, while "remorseless" means having no regret or pity. They are antonyms and have opposite meanings.

What's the difference between "remorseful" and "guilty"?

"Guilty" implies responsibility for a wrongdoing, whereas "remorseful" implies feeling sorrow and regret for that wrongdoing. You can be guilty without being remorseful, and vice versa, though they often occur together.