regretful• There wasn't much else to see, Malcolm Anderson told Jean, sounding regretful.• He did not craverecognition, but was understandably regretful about his lack of it.• She cast a regretful look at the big double bed with its luxuriouscontinentalquilt.• With a regretfulsigh he removed his arm from its protective place around her shoulders and stepped back.• Whispered in reverent and regretfultones, the rumors had been floating for the past few weeks that her condition had worsened.