as in unfortunate
of a kind to cause great distress
the explorers forged ahead despite the regrettable loss of some of their companions
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Recent Examples of regrettable
The early days of the 2026 MLB season have produced memorable debuts, unforgettable images and regrettable decisions.
—
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Japan called the step unacceptable and regrettable and demanded that China retract it immediately.
—Arkansas Online, 31 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for regrettable
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Japan called the step unacceptable and regrettable and demanded that China retract it immediately.
—Arkansas Online, 31 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for regrettable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regrettable
Adjective
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Lee said the incident is especially unfortunate, given the good work VCH does.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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This is unfortunate and, from your telling, needlessly aggressive.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Bojorquez said Jones was a brave officer who had made a tragic mistake while rushing to the aid of victims.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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That’s especially true in the tragic murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Regrettable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regrettable. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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