adjective
C2
Proficient
remorseful
rih-MAWS-fuul
Remorseful (adjective) means feeling genuinely sorry for something you did wrong. Example: “He seemed truly remorseful about missing her birthday.”
adjective
1
Feeling genuinely sorry for something you did wrong.
"He seemed truly remorseful about missing her birthday."
"The remorseful driver apologised to everyone at the scene."
How to use remorseful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling bad or guilty about something you did.
Common mistake
Remorseful is about genuine guilt for a wrongdoing, not just general sadness or disappointment.
Common pairings
deeply remorseful
remorseful about
a remorseful apology
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more remorseful
- Superlative
- most remorseful
Fill the gap
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He seemed truly _____ about missing her birthday.
Etymology
Built from "remorse" (from Latin remordere, "to bite back" — the idea of guilt gnawing at you) plus the adjective ending "-ful."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for remorseful
See all rhymes for remorseful →Frequently asked questions
What does “remorseful” mean?
The word “remorseful” means feeling genuinely sorry for something you did wrong. In plain terms, feeling bad or guilty about something you did.
How do you pronounce “remorseful”?
“Remorseful” is pronounced rih-MAWS-fuul (/ɹɪˈmɔː(ɹ)sfʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “remorseful” in a sentence?
Here is “remorseful” used in a sentence: “He seemed truly remorseful about missing her birthday.”
What is another word for “remorseful”?
Words with a similar meaning to “remorseful” include penitent, apologetic, regretful, repentant, contrite and guilt-ridden.
What is the opposite of “remorseful”?
The opposite of “remorseful” — its antonyms — are remorseless, unremorseful, unrepentant, impenitent and obdurate.
What part of speech is “remorseful”?
“Remorseful” is an adjective.
Where does the word “remorseful” come from?
The word “remorseful” comes from Latin. Built from "remorse" (from Latin remordere, "to bite back" — the idea of guilt gnawing at you) plus the adjective ending "-ful.".
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