regrettable

adjective

re·​gret·​ta·​ble ri-ˈgre-tə-bəl How to pronounce regrettable (audio)
Synonyms of regrettablenext
: deserving regret

Examples of regrettable in a Sentence

His decision to quit is regrettable. It was a regrettable mistake.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Afterward, a student in the audience complained to his parents that, at the event, the deaths of Palestinian civilians had been characterized as collateral damage—a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of the battle against Hamas. Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026 As history has proved, titans of industry often share a regrettable tendency to make a lot of money from leveraging enthusiasm and then leaving others to clean up the mess when the markets implode. Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Signing players to regrettable extensions and making bad personnel decisions did. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026 Dealing with the trade fallout’s embarrassment is regrettable enough. Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for regrettable

Word History

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of regrettable was in 1603

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Regrettable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regrettable. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

regrettable

adjective
re·​gret·​ta·​ble ri-ˈgret-ə-bəl How to pronounce regrettable (audio)
: deserving regret

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