remorse

Everyday

1. A deep, painful feeling of being sorry and guilty for something wrong you have done. tree →
2. (idiom) «Without remorse»: cruelly, without feeling sorry. tree →

In the lessons

In ethics and church lessons, remorse is the first step to saying sorry, making things right and being forgiven; Christians speak of repentance, which includes remorse and turning away from wrong. In law, judges sometimes take into account whether someone shows remorse. In stories, Toad shows remorse after his crimes — though it does not last long! Phrases: «feel remorse», «show remorse», «full of remorse», «without remorse».

Examples

• He felt deep remorse after hitting his little sister. tree →
• Toad was full of remorse — for at least five minutes. tree →
• The thief showed no remorse in court. tree →
• Remorse made her go back and say sorry. tree →
• The villain laughed without remorse. tree →
• True remorse means trying to put things right. tree →
• He was not exactly seized with remorse, but he was very uneasy. tree →

Note

Uncountable noun (never «a remorse»). Adjective: remorseful (feeling sorry); remorseless (cruel, without pity — also «never stopping»: the remorseless rain). Similar: guilt, regret (regret is milder).