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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of apologetic
Women were expected to be apologetic and submissive.
—
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Ayub as Adam is taciturn, hesitant and always apologetic, keeping his eyes downcast and his shoulders hunched.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Yasmin escapes to the deserted deck of the boat, where she is soon followed by her drunk, apparently apologetic dad.
—Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2024
Plus, apologetic memories of her dead European mother.
—Armond White, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apologetic 
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Ayub as Adam is taciturn, hesitant and always apologetic, keeping his eyes downcast and his shoulders hunched.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Yasmin escapes to the deserted deck of the boat, where she is soon followed by her drunk, apparently apologetic dad.
—Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2024
Plus, apologetic memories of her dead European mother.
—Armond White, National Review, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apologetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologetic
Adjective
-
If a nation produces two great works of cinema in a single year, sorry, one’s gotta go.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
1 Feb. 2025
-
Mathews agreed that there was no need for Barrymore to feel sorry for expressing herself in a way that feels comfortable.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Patrick Mahomes was ashamed of his spike attempt, too.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
30 Jan. 2025
-
This tender moment is just more proof that even the toughest-looking guys in sports aren't ashamed of the sensitive side their kids bring out, and might actually be eager to show the world how much their families mean to them, on and off the field.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Not necessarily remorseful about it or sad about it.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Dec. 2024
-
Meanwhile, the fans wearing Aaron Judge and Mariano Rivera jerseys who tried to pry the ball from Betts’ glove weren’t exactly remorseful.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Reubens is candid and perhaps regretful about some of his controlling behavior on the show, and its eventual demise; ditto some of the choices made on Big Top Pee-Wee.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
-
Her scenes with Burstein are rich and funny and regretful; those with June (Jordan Tyson) and Louise (Joy Woods) are withering.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
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
-
Scotty was pretty contrite during the reunion, but Aria was clearly heartbroken.—
Laura Bradley,
Vulture,
18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
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
-
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 6 Feb. 2025.
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