Regret vs. Repent — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 3, 2024
Regret involves feeling sorry for past actions, focusing on emotional disappointment; repentance involves moral reflection and a commitment to change behavior.
Difference Between Regret and Repent
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Regret primarily revolves around the emotional response to past actions or decisions that one wishes were different, often involving sadness or disappointment. Whereas repentance is more action-oriented, involving the recognition of wrongdoing and the sincere intention to change one's behavior.
Regret is a personal feeling that doesn't necessarily lead to action, emphasizing the emotional aspect of wishing something had been done differently. On the other hand, repentance is deeply rooted in ethical and religious contexts, often requiring confession and atonement as part of rectifying the wrong.
Regret can occur over any decision or action, whether morally significant or not, and is often associated with missed opportunities or errors. Conversely, repentance is specifically about moral or ethical failures, focusing on correcting or making amends for moral transgressions.
Regret is a backward-looking feeling that can persist without leading to any external actions. In contrast, repentance is forward-looking, aiming at personal change and often involving steps to reconcile with others.
Regret is generally a secular feeling and can be experienced by anyone regardless of their religious or moral beliefs. However, repentance is often associated with religious practices and beliefs, emphasizing an alignment with moral or divine laws.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Emotional response to past actions or decisions
Moral reflection and commitment to change behavior
Context
Secular, can involve any decision
Often religious, relates to moral failings
Outcome
Primarily emotional disappointment
Involves active steps to make amends
Focus
Backward-looking, non-action oriented
Forward-looking, action-oriented
Associated with
Personal feelings of sadness or disappointment
Ethical corrections, atonement
Compare with Definitions
Regret
Emotional pain associated with wishing for the undoing of a past event.
Her biggest regret was not finishing her degree.
Repent
Commitment to personal change after acknowledging moral failures.
His journey of repentance led to a complete lifestyle overhaul.
Regret
Sentiment of loss or missed opportunities.
They looked back with regret at the lost years.
Repent
Process of making amends and seeking to rectify wrongs.
Part of his repentance involved community service.
Regret
A wish that one had chosen differently in the past.
He had immediate regret for not taking the job offer.
Repent
Act of repenting; sincere regret or remorse.
His repentance was evident as he apologized to those he had wronged.
Regret
Remorse for a mistake or misjudgment.
His casual attitude led to regrettable mistakes.
Repent
Religious practice of seeking forgiveness for sins.
She found solace in repentance during the service.
Regret
Feeling of sorrow or disappointment over something that has happened or been done.
She felt deep regret after yelling at her friend.
Repent
Acknowledgment and turning away from sins.
True repentance involves both confession and forgiveness.
Regret
Regret is the emotion of wishing one had made a different decision in the past, because the consequences of the decision were unfavorable. Regret is related to perceived opportunity.
Repent
To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite
"[He] liked to visit prisoners and admonish them to repent of their ways" (Adam Hochschild).
Regret
Feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that one has done or failed to do)
She immediately regretted her words
I always regretted that I never trained
Repent
To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it
Repented of intemperate behavior. You'd better accept their offer before they repent.
Regret
A feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over an occurrence or something that one has done or failed to do
He had to decline, to his regret
She expressed her regret at Virginia's death
Repent
To become a more moral or religious person as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.
Regret
To feel sorry, disappointed, distressed, or remorseful about
I regret not speaking to her before she left.
Repent
To feel regret or self-reproach for
Repent one's sins.
Regret
To remember with a feeling of loss or sorrow; mourn
"He almost regretted the penury which he had suffered during the last two years since the desperate struggle merely to keep body and soul together had deadened the pain of living" (W. Somerset Maugham).
Repent
(Archaic) To cause (one or oneself) to feel remorse or regret
"And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth" (King James Bible).
Regret
To feel regret.
Repent
Prostrate or growing along the ground.
Regret
A feeling of sorrow, disappointment, distress, or remorse about something that one wishes could be different.
Repent
(intransitive) To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".
Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
Regret
A sense of loss and longing for someone or something gone or passed out of existence
"We have both had flashes of regret for those vanished, golden people" (Anne Rivers Siddons).
Repent
To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to practice sin and to love.
Regret
Regrets A courteous expression of regret, especially at having to decline an invitation.
Repent
(transitive) To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
Regret
To feel sorry about (a thing that has or has not happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead.
He regretted his words.
Repent
(transitive) To be sorry for, to regret.
I repent my sins.
Regret
(more generally) To feel sorry about (any thing).
I regret that I have to do this, but I don't have a choice.
Repent
To cause to have sorrow or regret.
Regret
To miss; to feel the loss or absence of; to mourn.
Repent
To cause (oneself) to feel pain or regret.
Regret
Emotional pain on account of something done or experienced in the past, with a wish that it had been different; a looking back with dissatisfaction or with longing.
Repent
Creeping along the ground.
Regret
(obsolete) Dislike; aversion.
Repent
Prostrate and rooting; - said of stems.
Regret
(decision theory) The amount of avoidable loss that results from choosing the wrong action.
Repent
Same as Reptant.
Regret
Pain of mind on account of something done or experienced in the past, with a wish that it had been different; a looking back with dissatisfaction or with longing; grief; sorrow; especially, a mourning on account of the loss of some joy, advantage, or satisfaction.
What man does not remember with regret the first time he read Robinson Crusoe?
Never any prince expressed a more lively regret for the loss of a servant.
From its peaceful bosom [the grave] spring none but fond regrets and tender recollections.
Repent
To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do.
First she relentsWith pity; of that pity then repents.
Regret
Dislike; aversion.
Repent
To change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.
Lest, peradventure, the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.
Regret
To experience regret on account of; to lose or miss with a sense of regret; to feel sorrow or dissatisfaction on account of (the happening or the loss of something); as, to regret an error; to regret lost opportunities or friends.
Calmly he looked on either life, and hereSaw nothing to regret, or there to fear.
In a few hours they [the Israelites] began to regret their slavery, and to murmur against their leader.
Recruits who regretted the plow from which they had been violently taken.
Repent
To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to love and practice sin.
Except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish.
Regret
Sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment;
He drank to drown his sorrows
He wrote a note expressing his regret
To his rue, the error cost him the game
Repent
To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
I do repent it from my very soul.
Regret
Feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
Repent
To feel regret or sorrow; - used reflexively.
My father has repented him ere now.
Regret
Feel sad about the loss or absence of
Repent
To cause to have sorrow or regret; - used impersonally.
Regret
Decline formally or politely;
I regret I can't come to the party
Repent
Turn away from sin or do penitence
Regret
Be sorry;
I regret to say that you did not gain admission to Harvard
Repent
Feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
Common Curiosities
Can regret lead to repentance?
While regret is an emotional response that might prompt reflection, it does not necessarily lead to the active process of repentance.
How do regret and repentance affect personal growth?
Regret can increase self-awareness but may not lead to action; repentance actively fosters personal and ethical growth through corrective actions.
What is regret?
Regret is an emotional response to past decisions or actions that one wishes could have been different.
What is repentance?
Repentance involves acknowledging wrongdoing and making a sincere effort to change and make amends.
Is repentance always religious?
Though often associated with religious practices, repentance can also occur in a secular context as a personal commitment to ethical improvement.
What are common causes of regret?
Common causes include missed opportunities, poor decisions, and actions that led to unintended consequences.
Can regret be beneficial?
Yes, if it leads to reflection and learning from past mistakes, regret can be a useful emotional response.
What is the first step in repentance?
The first step typically involves recognizing one's wrongdoing and feeling genuine remorse.
How do different cultures view regret and repentance?
Cultural views vary widely, with some emphasizing emotional reflection (regret) and others focusing on moral and communal restoration (repentance).
Are there any rituals associated with repentance?
In many religious traditions, rituals such as confession, prayer, or fasting may accompany acts of repentance.
How can one overcome regret?
Overcoming regret typically involves learning from past mistakes, forgiving oneself, and moving forward.
How is repentance shown?
Repentance can be shown through actions aimed at making amends and changing one’s behavior to avoid repeating the wrongs.
Can one experience regret without repentance?
Yes, one can feel regret without taking steps towards repentance, which involves active change.
How do regret and repentance relate to forgiveness?
Regret may lead one to seek forgiveness from others, while repentance often includes both seeking forgiveness and offering it where one has wronged others.
Is it possible to repent without feeling regret?
Feeling regret is usually a component of repentance, as it implies an emotional understanding of the wrongdoing.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Preference vs. Discrimination
Next Comparison
Vulture vs. HawkAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
