First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
remorse
noun re·morse \ri-ˈmȯrs\
: a feeling of being sorry for doing something bad or wrong in the past : a feeling of guilt
Full Definition of REMORSE
1
: a gnawing distress arising from a sense of guilt for past wrongs : self-reproach
2
obsolete : compassion
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Origin of REMORSE
Middle English, from Anglo-French remors, from Medieval Latin remorsus, from Late Latin, act of biting again, from Latin remordēre to bite again, from re- + mordēre to bite — more at mordant
Related to REMORSE
- Synonyms
- contriteness, contrition, penitence, regret, guilt, remorsefulness, repentance, rue, self-reproach, shame
- Antonyms
- impenitence, remorselessness
Synonym Discussion of REMORSE
penitence, repentance, contrition, compunction, remorse mean regret for sin or wrongdoing. penitence implies sad and humble realization of and regret for one's misdeeds <absolution is dependent upon sincere penitence>. repentance adds the implication of a resolve to change <repentance accompanied by a complete change of character>. contrition stresses the sorrowful regret that constitutes true penitence <tearful expressions of contrition>. compunction implies a painful sting of conscience especially for contemplated wrongdoing <had no compunctions about taking back what is mine>. remorse suggests prolonged and insistent self-reproach and mental anguish for past wrongs and especially for those whose consequences cannot be remedied <thieves untroubled by feelings of remorse>.
Rhymes with REMORSE
clotheshorse, concourse, crash course, dark horse, dawn horse, dead horse, deforce, discourse, divorce, dray horse, endorse, enforce, extrorse, golf course, gut course, high horse, introrse, iron horse, midcourse, of course, Old Norse, one-horse, packhorse, perforce, post-horse, racecourse, racehorse, recourse, redhorse, resource, retrorse, sawhorse, sea horse, stringcourse, trial horse, unhorse, warhorse, wheelhorse, Whitehorse, workhorse
REMORSE Defined for Kids
remorse
noun re·morse \ri-ˈmȯrs\
Definition of REMORSE for Kids
: deep regret for doing or saying something wrong <She felt a pang of remorse after yelling.>
— re·morse·ful \-fəl\ adjective
— re·morse·less \-ləs\ adjective
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