- apologetic
- contrite
- regretful
- remorseful
- touched
- attritional
- compunctious
- conscience-stricken
- guilt-ridden
- melted
- penitent
- penitential
- repentant
- self-accusing
- self-condemnatory
- self-reproachful
- shamefaced
- softened
- pitiful
- sad
- sorrowful
- unhappy
- disconsolate
- distressed
- grieved
- heartbroken
- heavy-hearted
- melancholy
- mournful
- rueful
- saddened
- dismal
- distressing
- miserable
- pitiful
- sad
- abject
- base
- beggarly
- cheap
- contemptible
- deplorable
- despisable
- disgraceful
- inadequate
- insignificant
- mean
- paltry
- piteous
- pitiable
- poor
- scruffy
- scummy
- scurvy
- shabby
- shoddy
- small
- trifling
- trivial
- unimportant
- vile
- worthless
- wretched
On this page you’ll find 129 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to sorry, such as: apologetic, contrite, remorseful, regretful, touched, and attritional.
antonyms for sorry
- happy
- glad
- heartened
- hopeful
- joyful
- good
- nice
Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
TRY USING sorry
See how your sentence looks with different synonyms.
How to use sorry in a sentence
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
OCTOBER 26, 1985
WORDS RELATED TO SORRY
- afflicted
- altered
- changed
- compassionate
- concerned
- damaged
- distressed
- excited
- grieved
- impaired
- impressed
- influenced
- injured
- overwhelmed
- overwrought
- sorry
- stimulated
- stirred
- sympathetic
- tender
- touched
- troubled
- upset
- averse
- backward
- disinclined
- hesitant
- indisposed
- loath
- reluctant
- sorry
- uneager
- unhappy
- unwilling
- atoning
- attritional
- compunctious
- conciliatory
- contrite
- expiatory
- explanatory
- on one’s knees
- penitent
- penitential
- propitiatory
- regretful
- remorseful
- repentant
- rueful
- self-effacing
- self-incriminating
- sorry
- supplicating
- abashed
- apologetic
- bashful
- blushing
- chagrined
- compunctious
- conscience-stricken
- contrite
- crestfallen
- debased
- demeaned
- discomfited
- disconcerted
- distraught
- distressed
- embarrassed
- flustered
- guilty
- hesitant
- humble
- humbled
- humiliated
- meek
- mortified
- muddled
- penitent
- regretful
- reluctant
- repentant
- shamed
- shamefaced
- sheepish
- shy
- sorry
- stammering
- stuttering
- submissive
- abject
- abominable
- cheap
- coarse
- common
- contemptible
- corrupt
- depraved
- despicable
- disgraceful
- dishonorable
- disreputable
- foul
- grovelling
- humble
- ignoble
- immoral
- indelicate
- loathsome
- lowly
- mean
- menial
- offensive
- paltry
- pitiful
- plebeian
- poor
- scandalous
- servile
- shameful
- shoddy
- sleazy
- sordid
- sorry
- squalid
- trashy
- ugly
- unworthy
- vile
- worthless
- wretched
- abject
- abominable
- cheap
- coarse
- common
- contemptible
- corrupt
- depraved
- despicable
- disgraceful
- dishonorable
- disreputable
- foul
- grovelling
- humble
- ignoble
- immoral
- indelicate
- loathsome
- lowly
- mean
- menial
- offensive
- paltry
- pitiful
- plebeian
- poor
- scandalous
- servile
- shameful
- shoddy
- sleazy
- sordid
- sorry
- squalid
- trashy
- ugly
- unworthy
- vile
- worthless
- wretched
Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
1
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one’s loathing and disgust
one more sorry stunt like that and you’ll be fired
2
as in sad
causing unhappiness
we have sorry news to report tonight
3
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
the ragtag circus was a sorry spectacle indeed
4
as in ashamed
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
she’s genuinely sorry for hurting his feelings
5
as in heartbroken
feeling unhappiness
was sorry to see the family farm being sold
6
as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
those sorry rituals that we go through when somebody dies are not for the dead but for the living
7
as in poor
deserving of one’s pity
some sorry wretch had the task of putting all of those files back in order
Synonym Chooser
How is the word sorry different from other adjectives like it?
Some common synonyms of sorry are contemptible, despicable, pitiable, and scurvy. While all these words mean «arousing or deserving scorn,» sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness.
this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car
When is contemptible a more appropriate choice than sorry?
The meanings of contemptible and sorry largely overlap; however, contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values.
When might despicable be a better fit than sorry?
The synonyms despicable and sorry are sometimes interchangeable, but despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation.
Where would pitiable be a reasonable alternative to sorry?
While in some cases nearly identical to sorry, pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity.
a pitiable attempt at tragedy
How are the words scurvy and despicable related as synonyms of sorry?
Scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust.
a scurvy crew of hangers-on
Thesaurus Entries Near sorry
Cite this Entry
“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorry. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
Share
More from Merriam-Webster on sorry
Subscribe to America’s largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!
Merriam-Webster unabridged
What is another word for Sorry?
-
feeling, pitiful
Use filters to view other words, we have 1008 synonyms for sorry.
If you know synonyms for Sorry, then you can share it or put your rating in listed similar words.
- APA
- MLA
- CMS
The Ultimate List of “I’m Sorry” Synonyms
powered by
LanguageTool
Saying “I’m sorry” can be hard. This list of synonyms can help you learn how to apologize sincerely in any situation.
Different Ways To Say “I’m Sorry”
- I can’t apologize enough.
- Please accept my sincerest apologies.
- I am at fault and take full responsibility.
- Please forgive me.
- I’m regretful.
Saying “I’m Sorry”
Being human means making mistakes. Making mistakes means having to apologize. Sometimes, though, saying I’m sorry just isn’t enough.
It is especially difficult to apologize when you don’t have the right words to express your regret. The list of I’m sorry synonyms below can help, whether your apology is formal or casual.
“I’m Sorry” Synonyms
When it comes to mistakes, there are minor missteps and then there are major inconveniences. Both require entirely different types of apologies. Plus, the way you apologize differs based on if you’re talking to your boss at work or your friends at a gathering.
That being said, below you’ll find formal synonyms for I’m sorry, but also casual phrases you can use instead.
Formal “Sorry” Synonyms
1. I apologize.
Consider this a direct, more formal synonym of “I’m sorry.” It’s quite versatile in the sense that it can be used for both small and big mistakes.
I apologize for being late. I can assure you it won’t happen again.
Another similar synonym is my apologies.
My apologies for being late. I can assure you it won’t happen again.
2. I can’t apologize enough.
Use this sorry synonym when you want to emphasize how sorry you are.
I can’t apologize enough for throwing out the cake. I thought it was stale.
3. Please accept my sincerest apologies.
This I’m sorry synonym accentuates that your apology is sincere.
I won’t be able to attend the presentation on which you’ve been working so hard. Please accept my sincerest apologies.
4. I’m regretful.
This option expresses that you’re deeply apologetic. If you’re using it, make sure to still use “I’m sorry” or “I apologize” somewhere in your apology.
I’m sorry for missing the tournament. I’m regretful.
5. Pardon me.
This synonym for I’m sorry is rather formal, but should only be used for minor inconveniences. You shouldn’t say pardon me for major gaffes.
Pardon me for mispronouncing your name.
6. Please forgive me.
Please be aware that this I’m sorry synonym carries a lot of weight and can be quite sentimental. It tends to be used in more serious circumstances.
That was an egregious error on my end. Please forgive me.
7. I am at fault and take full responsibility.
A major component of apologizing is taking responsibility, which is what makes this I’m sorry synonym so powerful.
Mr. Harris, the client backed out last minute. I am at fault and take full responsibility.
8. I beg your pardon.
This is another polite expression that can be used in place of I’m sorry. It’s slightly more popular in British English than in US-American English.
I beg your pardon, but I won’t be able to make the delivery until later in the evening.
How To Apologize Professionally in an Email
Keep in mind that written apologies may differ from apologizing in person, especially if your written apology is for a professional email. In that case, avoid apologizing using clichés like sorry for the inconvenience, and instead use another phrase like I sincerely apologize for this oversight.
Casual “Sorry” Synonyms
The synonyms above are better suited for more serious situations. The synonyms below, on the other hand, are for minor mistakes, like accidentally bumping into someone. Keep in mind that these are informal options. They’re usually reserved for casual conversations or encounters.
9. My bad.
My bad. I didn’t see you there.
10. My mistake.
My mistake; I didn’t know you were waiting in line.
11. My fault.
My fault. I didn’t think you wanted to play the game anymore.
12. Sorry about that.
Sorry about that. I didn’t think you’d be joining.
13. Whoops (or Oops)
Whoops, I didn’t mean to leave that there.
Oops, I didn’t mean to leave that there.
Saying “I’m Sorry” in a Different Way
Different scenarios call for different types of apologies. That’s why it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with these I’m sorry synonyms.
Remember, effective communication requires an expansive vocabulary. LanguageTool is a multilingual writing assistant that can help you find more accurate synonyms while writing. As if that weren’t impressive enough, it can also rephrase your sentences to better suit the tone you’re looking for.
It’s free to try, so give it a go!
Unleash the Professional Writer in You With LanguageTool
Go well beyond grammar and spell checking. Impress with clear, precise, and stylistically flawless writing instead.
Get started for free
We Value Your Feedback
We’ve made a mistake, forgotten about an important detail, or haven’t managed to get the point across? Let’s help each other to perfect our writing.
Are you curious about what other words you can use instead of the word sorry? Look no further, we have the answers you need. Keep reading and you will find multiple examples and learn how to use them.
Apologetic
Meaning: Sorry about something.
Example Sentence: Julia was extremely apologetic about what happened.
Contrite
Meaning: Feeling remorse because you did something wrong.
Example Sentence: Jimmy was talking to me with a contrite tone because of what he did.
Dismal
Meaning: Gloomy, depressive.
Example Sentence: Michael’s statement caused the mood in the room to go dismal.
Miserable
Meaning: Unhappy, pathetic, sorry.
Example Sentence: I feel miserable today…
Pitiful
Meaning: Something that deserves pity.
Example Sentence: We found Alissa and her sister in a pitiful state.
Regretful
Meaning: Feeling sorry, showing regret.
Example Sentence: He called me and sounded regretful about the car crash…
Remorseful
Meaning: Showing remorse.
Example Sentence: Sylvia was very remorseful about what happened between us.
Sad
Meaning: Unhappy, sorry, feeling sorrow.
Example Sentence: Antwon looks so sad, let’s go cheer him up!
Sorrowful
Meaning: Showing or feeling great sorrow.
Example Sentence: Claire is so sorrowful about losing her job.
Unhappy
Meaning: Sad, not happy.
Example Sentence: Why are you so unhappy all the time?