# remorse

/ɹɪˈmɔɹs/ (US) · /ɹɪmˈɔːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/remorse
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 2. pity or compassion

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a feeling of pity or sadness for someone else.

For teachers: a sense of compassion or pity toward others.

- The king showed no remorse for the suffering of his people.
- In the ancient tragedy, the conqueror was depicted as a man without remorse, unmoved by the pleas of the defeated.

Teaching tip: This sense is rarely found in modern conversation; learners will mostly encounter it in classical literature or historical texts.

### 3. to feel regret

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to feel very sorry or regretful about something.

For teachers: to experience or express regret or sorrow; functions as an intransitive verb.

- He began to remorse after realizing the pain he had caused.
- Though he might remorse in private, his public persona remained cold and unyielding to criticism.

Usage: The verb form is intransitive and rarely used in contemporary English.

## Examples

- He felt deep remorse for his unkind words.
- The defendant showed no remorse during the trial, which led the judge to issue a harsher sentence.
- True remorse involves not only the internal agony of guilt but also a sincere desire to make amends to those who were harmed by one's actions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.