When people feel regret, they think about something they wish they had done differently. Regret can make us feel sad or sorry about a choice or action. Sometimes, it’s hard to explain this feeling with just one word. That’s where similes can help. Similes compare one thing to another using the words “like” or “as” to make the feeling easier to understand.
In this article, you will learn about similes for regret. These phrases show what regret feels like by comparing it to things you might know. Each simile helps paint a clear picture of regret. This will help you understand the feeling better and even use these phrases when you want to talk about regret.
Similes for Regret
1. Like a shadow that follows you
Meaning: Always reminding you of a mistake
For Example: His mistake was like a shadow that follows him everywhere. / Regret felt like a shadow that never left.
Alternatively: Always there / Hard to forget
2. As heavy as a stone in your pocket
Meaning: Feeling very weighed down by regret
For Example: Her regret was as heavy as a stone in her pocket. / Carrying that secret was as heavy as a stone.
Alternatively: Hard to carry / Very heavy feeling
3. Like a broken clock stuck at the wrong time
Meaning: Feeling stuck and unable to move on
For Example: He felt like a broken clock stuck at the wrong time after his mistake. / Regret made her feel like a broken clock.
Alternatively: Stuck / Not moving forward
4. As cold as ice in your heart
Meaning: Feeling empty or sad because of regret
For Example: His heart felt as cold as ice when he thought about what he lost. / Regret made her feel cold inside.
Alternatively: Sad inside / Empty feeling
5. Like rain on a sunny day
Meaning: Feeling regret even during happy times
For Example: The news was like rain on a sunny day for him. / Her regret felt like rain spoiling a bright day.
Alternatively: Spoiling good moments / Sadness in happiness
6. As bitter as black coffee
Meaning: Feeling a strong, unpleasant regret
For Example: His regret was as bitter as black coffee. / She tasted regret as bitter as strong coffee.
Alternatively: Harsh feeling / Unpleasant emotion
7. Like a page torn from a book
Meaning: Feeling something important is lost forever
For Example: Losing his chance was like a page torn from a book. / Regret felt like losing a page of her life story.
Alternatively: Lost part / Missing piece
8. As empty as an unfinished puzzle
Meaning: Feeling incomplete because of regret
For Example: His heart was as empty as an unfinished puzzle. / She felt like a puzzle missing pieces.
Alternatively: Incomplete / Missing something important
9. Like a bird with a broken wing
Meaning: Feeling hurt and unable to fly or move on
For Example: After the fight, he felt like a bird with a broken wing. / Regret held her back like a broken wing.
Alternatively: Hurt / Held back
10. As sharp as a thorn
Meaning: Feeling a painful regret
For Example: The memory was as sharp as a thorn in his mind. / Her regret pricked her like a thorn.
Alternatively: Painful feeling / Sharp emotion
11. Like a lost key in a big house
Meaning: Feeling confused and unable to find a solution
For Example: He felt like a lost key in a big house after the mistake. / Regret made her feel lost like a missing key.
Alternatively: Confused / Searching
12. As dark as a cloudy night
Meaning: Feeling sad and hopeless because of regret
For Example: His thoughts were as dark as a cloudy night. / Regret made the day feel dark and gloomy.
Alternatively: Sad feeling / Gloomy mind
13. Like a wilted flower
Meaning: Feeling like something beautiful has been ruined
For Example: His hopes were like a wilted flower after the mistake. / Regret made her feel like a flower losing its petals.
Alternatively: Ruined / Faded away
14. As slow as dripping water
Meaning: Feeling regret that lingers slowly over time
For Example: The sadness was as slow as dripping water. / His regret came slowly like drops of water.
Alternatively: Slow feeling / Lasting long
15. Like a lost letter in the mail
Meaning: Feeling something important was never received or understood
For Example: His apology was like a lost letter in the mail. / Regret was like a letter that never reached its place.
Alternatively: Unnoticed / Lost chance
16. As empty as an erased chalkboard
Meaning: Feeling like everything has been wiped away
For Example: Her dreams felt as empty as an erased chalkboard. / Regret wiped his plans like chalk on a board.
Alternatively: Wiped clean / Nothing left
17. Like footprints washed away by the tide
Meaning: Feeling like your efforts disappeared without a trace
For Example: His hard work felt like footprints washed away by the tide. / Regret was like steps erased by waves.
Alternatively: Gone / Lost
18. As quiet as a falling leaf
Meaning: Feeling regret in a soft, silent way
For Example: Her regret was as quiet as a falling leaf. / He felt silent regret like leaves drifting down.
Alternatively: Soft feeling / Silent sadness
19. Like a candle burning at both ends
Meaning: Feeling worn out by regret and stress
For Example: He was like a candle burning at both ends after the mistake. / Regret made her feel tired like a burning candle.
Alternatively: Exhausted / Overwhelmed
20. As fragile as glass
Meaning: Feeling delicate and vulnerable because of regret
For Example: Her feelings were as fragile as glass after the fight. / Regret made him feel very delicate.
Alternatively: Vulnerable / Easily hurt
21. Like a kite caught in a storm
Meaning: Feeling out of control and tossed by regret
For Example: He felt like a kite caught in a storm of bad choices. / Regret tossed her like a kite in strong wind.
Alternatively: Out of control / Tossed around
22. As empty as a hollow tree
Meaning: Feeling hollow or without joy
For Example: His heart felt as empty as a hollow tree. / Regret left her feeling hollow inside.
Alternatively: Hollow feeling / Empty inside
23. Like a song stuck on one note
Meaning: Feeling stuck in regret without moving on
For Example: His thoughts were like a song stuck on one note. / Regret kept her mind on the same sad thought.
Alternatively: Stuck / Repeating
24. As quiet as a forgotten toy
Meaning: Feeling ignored or forgotten because of regret
For Example: He felt as quiet as a forgotten toy in the corner. / Regret made her feel left out like a forgotten toy.
Alternatively: Ignored / Left out
25. Like a clock that has stopped ticking
Meaning: Feeling like time has stopped because of regret
For Example: After the mistake, he felt like a clock that had stopped ticking. / Regret made her feel frozen in time.
Alternatively: Time stopped / Frozen feeling
26. As dry as a desert
Meaning: Feeling empty or without hope
For Example: His heart felt as dry as a desert after the loss. / Regret left her feeling dry and empty.
Alternatively: Empty / Without hope
27. Like a boat lost at sea
Meaning: Feeling lost and unsure what to do
For Example: He felt like a boat lost at sea after his mistake. / Regret made her feel lost like a boat with no direction.
Alternatively: Lost / Confused
28. As cold as a winter night
Meaning: Feeling sad and lonely because of regret
For Example: Her regret was as cold as a winter night. / He felt lonely like a cold night after the fight.
Alternatively: Sad and lonely / Cold feeling
29. Like a story with a sad ending
Meaning: Feeling regret like a sad finish to something good
For Example: His life felt like a story with a sad ending. / Regret was like the sad ending of her favorite book.
Alternatively: Sad ending / Unhappy finish
30. As soft as falling snow
Meaning: Feeling gentle but sad regret
For Example: Her regret was as soft as falling snow. / He felt gentle sadness like soft snowflakes.
Alternatively: Gentle feeling / Quiet sadness
31. Like a garden left untended
Meaning: Feeling regret for not taking care of something important
For Example: His chances were like a garden left untended. / Regret was like a garden that no one watered.
Alternatively: Neglected / Lost chance
32. As slow as a turtle’s walk
Meaning: Feeling regret that takes a long time to fade
For Example: His sadness moved as slow as a turtle’s walk. / Regret was slow to leave her mind.
Alternatively: Slow to fade / Lasting
33. Like a balloon losing air
Meaning: Feeling hope or happiness slowly going away
For Example: His excitement was like a balloon losing air. / Regret made her feel like a balloon deflating.
Alternatively: Fading hope / Losing energy
34. As empty as an abandoned house
Meaning: Feeling lonely and empty inside
For Example: Her heart was as empty as an abandoned house. / Regret left him feeling alone like an empty house.
Alternatively: Lonely / Empty inside
35. Like a book with missing pages
Meaning: Feeling something important is missing from life
For Example: His story felt like a book with missing pages. / Regret was like pages gone from her life story.
Alternatively: Missing part / Lost chance
36. As dark as a cave
Meaning: Feeling trapped and sad because of regret
For Example: He felt as dark as a cave in his thoughts. / Regret trapped her in a dark place.
Alternatively: Trapped / Sad place
37. Like a bird flying away
Meaning: Feeling like something good is gone forever
For Example: His chance flew away like a bird. / Regret was like watching a bird fly out of reach.
Alternatively: Lost forever / Gone
38. As cold as frozen water
Meaning: Feeling numb or unable to feel happy
For Example: Her heart was as cold as frozen water after the loss. / Regret made him feel numb like ice.
Alternatively: Numb feeling / Cold inside
39. Like a tree losing its leaves
Meaning: Feeling like something important is disappearing
For Example: His hopes fell away like leaves from a tree. / Regret was like a tree losing all its leaves.
Alternatively: Losing hope / Disappearing
40. As quiet as a sleeping cat
Meaning: Feeling calm but sad inside
For Example: Her regret was as quiet as a sleeping cat. / He sat quietly with his sad thoughts.
Alternatively: Calm but sad / Silent feelings
41. Like a river running dry
Meaning: Feeling like energy or hope is gone
For Example: His joy ran dry like a river in summer. / Regret made her feel empty like a dry riverbed.
Alternatively: Empty / No energy
42. As empty as an unused chair
Meaning: Feeling alone or missed
For Example: His place felt as empty as an unused chair at the table. / Regret was like a chair no one sat in.
Alternatively: Alone / Missed
43. Like a light bulb burned out
Meaning: Feeling like hope or ideas have stopped
For Example: His plans were like a light bulb burned out. / Regret made her feel like a dark room with no light.
Alternatively: No hope / No energy
44. As soft as a sad whisper
Meaning: Feeling regret quietly inside
For Example: Her regret was as soft as a sad whisper. / He spoke with regret in a quiet voice.
Alternatively: Quiet feeling / Soft sadness
45. Like a leaf blown by the wind
Meaning: Feeling lost and out of control
For Example: He was like a leaf blown by the wind of his choices. / Regret made her feel like a leaf lost in the air.
Alternatively: Lost / Out of control
46. As cold as the moonlight
Meaning: Feeling lonely and distant because of regret
For Example: His heart was as cold as the moonlight at night. / Regret made her feel far away and cold.
Alternatively: Lonely / Distant feeling
47. Like a flame slowly dying
Meaning: Feeling hope or happiness fading away
For Example: His joy was like a flame slowly dying out. / Regret made her hope fade like a dying fire.
Alternatively: Fading hope / Losing light
48. As quiet as falling snow
Meaning: Feeling regret softly and peacefully
For Example: Her regret fell as quiet as snow on the ground. / He felt regret like snow settling on the earth.
Alternatively: Soft sadness / Quiet feeling
49. Like a door closing slowly
Meaning: Feeling an opportunity ending
For Example: The chance was like a door closing slowly behind him. / Regret was like a door slowly shutting.
Alternatively: Ending chance / Closing opportunity
50. As lost as a star in the daylight
Meaning: Feeling unnoticed or forgotten because of regret
For Example: He felt as lost as a star in the daylight. / Regret made her feel like a star no one could see.
Alternatively: Unnoticed / Forgotten
Similes for Regret: True/False Quiz
- Saying regret is “like a shadow that follows you” means it stays with you all the time.
True / False - Feeling “as heavy as a stone in your pocket” means regret feels very light and easy.
True / False - “Like a broken clock stuck at the wrong time” means feeling stuck and unable to move on.
True / False - If regret is “as cold as ice in your heart,” it means you feel warm and happy inside.
True / False - Saying regret is “like rain on a sunny day” means it spoils happy moments.
True / False - “As bitter as black coffee” means regret is a very pleasant feeling.
True / False - Saying regret is “like a bird with a broken wing” means feeling hurt and held back.
True / False - Feeling “as sharp as a thorn” means regret is painful.
True / False - If regret is “like a lost key in a big house,” it means you feel confused and lost.
True / False - Saying regret is “like footprints washed away by the tide” means your efforts disappeared.
True / False - “Like a candle burning at both ends” means feeling full of energy and relaxed.
True / False - Saying regret is “like a kite caught in a storm” means feeling out of control.
True / False
Answer Key
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Similes Master!
- 8–11 Correct Answers: You really get Similes nice work!
- 4–7 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Similes together!
Conclusion
Regret is a feeling everyone knows. Similes help us show regret by comparing it to things we can see or feel. These comparisons make regret easier to understand and talk about.
By learning these similes, you can explain your feelings better and understand others too. Using similes can make your words clearer and more powerful when you write or speak. Keep practicing these similes, and you will get better at sharing your thoughts about regret.
