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as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness was sorry to see the family farm being sold

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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.

a contemptible liar

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.

a despicable crime

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sorry But our sorry showing in the early rounds undercuts any claim to prognosticating success. Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2025 Thank you for the good times sorry for the bad ones and for a great six years. Walden Green, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2025 His attempt to suddenly say sorry on Smackdown and ask Randy Orton to team up again was a surprising and fun twist. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025 And while most have been unsuccessful (sorry, Life by You), the game inZOI might finally be the title to take The Sims’ crown — but just not yet. Melanie Curry, Refinery29, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sorry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorry
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
    Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
  • Kwong grew up hearing stories of every kind about Manzanar—scary, sad, funny and infuriating.
    Rachel Ng, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Yet, whatever the deal means for Paul, Weiss, its acquiescence to Trump marks a sad day for the legal profession—or what once was a profession, and is now just another business.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • One of the most pathetic symbols of the new manosphere is Mark Zuckerberg.
    Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Michael Gandolfini pops up as a slimy Fisk mayoral staffer who wouldn’t look out of place in this magazine’s recent cover featuring the new young right, and his playing both pathetic and vaguely sympathetic is very fun to watch.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The young Jamie desperately wants his father’s approval, but his dad is ashamed of him.
    Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Waging war on Denmark is wrong and will damage U.S. defense and foreign relations for decades We Americans should be ashamed of ourselves and of our government.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite his close relationship with Trump, Elon Musk is unhappy about tariffs, which stand to hurt the business empire of the world’s richest man.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • There have even been reports of police being called to deal with the rowdy behavior, not to mention some theater employees who are unhappy about the cleanup required.
    Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • After raising the baby for five months, Murray, heartbroken, handed him over to his biological parents.
    Alexandra Chaidez, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
  • But in a confessional, Stacey weeps while sympathizing with her heartbroken friend.
    Abigail Adams, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In fact, the massive, albeit picturesque, gullies were made because of poor farming practices during the 1800s.
    Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Each site has a different interface, often poor or glitchy.
    Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • But the modern Democratic Party, rudderless and confused and reeling from a pitiful collective performance during Tuesday evening's presidential joint address to Congress, now confronts a fork in the road that's no joke.
    Newsweek, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • In the director’s world, fathers are pitiful providers, mothers are blandly cheerful (while quietly suffering enormously), and the kids see far more than their parents do.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorry. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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