What is Regretful?
The painful awareness that a past choice or action caused harm or led to an unwanted outcome. It involves wishing one had acted differently and can fuel personal growth. Regret is most healthy when it motivates change rather than endless self-blame.
When you might feel regretful
Regretful is a specific form of shameful, which itself is a type of sadness. You might experience this feeling in situations where sadness is present, particularly when the circumstances align with the nuances that define regretful.