as in sorry
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done
was profusely apologetic after accidentally breaking a treasured plate
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Recent Examples of apologetic
Plus, apologetic memories of her dead European mother.
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Armond White, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
While apologetic about how vendors have been treated, the executives urged them to stick with Saks and Saks Off 5th, and expressed extreme confidence that the deal to buy the Neiman Marcus Group would soon close, ultimately benefiting — and not hurting — them.
—David Moin, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
Recovering in the hospital after a distracted stumble into traffic, Garfield’s Tobias meets the apologetic woman who struck him with her vehicle: Almut (Florence Pugh), a talented and fiercely ambitious chef.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Blanchett is apologetic and melancholy as Cate, and wonderfully snotty as Shelly, critiquing the privilege and luxury that the actress knows that famous people like her take for granted.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apologetic 
Armond White, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
While apologetic about how vendors have been treated, the executives urged them to stick with Saks and Saks Off 5th, and expressed extreme confidence that the deal to buy the Neiman Marcus Group would soon close, ultimately benefiting — and not hurting — them.
—David Moin, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
Recovering in the hospital after a distracted stumble into traffic, Garfield’s Tobias meets the apologetic woman who struck him with her vehicle: Almut (Florence Pugh), a talented and fiercely ambitious chef.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Blanchett is apologetic and melancholy as Cate, and wonderfully snotty as Shelly, critiquing the privilege and luxury that the actress knows that famous people like her take for granted.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apologetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologetic
Adjective
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There’s no room for feeling sorry for ourselves in the NBA, in life in general.Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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The teen’s attorney, Bob Dunlap, said at the time his client was sorry for what occurred.Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Too many people too ashamed, suspicious, or fearful to speak.Martin McKenzie-Murray, SPIN, 7 Jan. 2025
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Don’t feel ashamed that your resume is missing a date, diploma, employment, or skill.AllBusiness, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Rasmussen’s family challenged that finding, saying Lazarus didn't appear remorseful and questioning why the board relied on the state’s youthful offender law in her case.Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2024
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The crew seems to have learned their lesson, or at least put on their most remorseful faces.Emma Soren, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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A day later, Harbaugh wasn’t so much as regretful as he was discontented.Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 18 Nov. 2024
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He's earned this opportunity by growing into what appears to be a good young man after being, like many of us, a youth full of regretful decisions.Phil Hay, The Athletic, 3 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Everyone would be expecting a contrite performance from him, tepid jokes about male-female relationships, jokes about how horrible men were, and so on.Camille Bordas, Harper's Magazine, 2 May 2024
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Scotty was pretty contrite during the reunion, but Aria was clearly heartbroken.Laura Bradley, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In his new statement, Suga took an even more repentant tone, apologizing for damaging his reputation and disappointing fans while opening himself to any further punishment.Justin Curto, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2024
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Released 24 years after a debut verse on an album no less auspicious than Outkast’s Stankonia, this was a veteran artist taking stock, vividly drawing the lines between the struggling kid and the grateful, repentant adult.Christopher R. Weingarten, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near apologetic
Cite this Entry
“Apologetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologetic. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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