apologizing
Expressing sincere regret
Apologizing is expressing regret or asking forgiveness for a wrong or offense.
The act ranges from casual acknowledgment I'm just apologizing for being late to formal admission of fault.
Someone who is always apologizing may be genuinely contrite or merely performing social ritual.
To apologize for something can also mean to defend it, though this older sense is rare: He spent his career apologizing for the regime's excesses.
Admission of wrongdoing
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- mea culpaAcknowledgment of personal blame
- concedingAcknowledging another's claim
- admittingConfessing or granting entry
owning up · disclosure · avowal · coming clean · fessing up · taking responsibility · candor · transparency
Expressing regret or apology
- contriteFeeling guilt over misdeeds
- regretfulFeeling sorrow over actions
- remorsefulFeeling guilt for wrongdoing
- repentantFeeling sorrow for misdeeds
ashamed · rueful · penitent · sorrowful · chagrined · self-reproach · compunction · guilt-ridden
Compensation for wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
- healingRestoration of health
- olive branchSymbol of reconciliation
making up · mending fences · reparation · restoration · rapprochement · truce · settlement · smoothing over
Yielding to another's judgment
- modestyAbsence of vanity
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- self-effacementDownplaying one's importance
- respectfulnessQuality of showing esteem
humbleness · eating crow · eating humble pie · swallowing pride · bowing · kowtowing · prostrating · genuflecting
State of being answerable
- answerabilityObligation to explain oneself
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- blameworthinessDeserving moral condemnation
ownership · duty · obligation · onus
confession
Admission of wrongdoing
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- mea culpaAcknowledgment of personal blame
- concedingAcknowledging another's claim
admitting · owning up · disclosure · avowal · coming clean · fessing up · taking responsibility · candor · transparency
sorry
Expressing regret or apology
- contriteFeeling guilt over misdeeds
- regretfulFeeling sorrow over actions
- remorsefulFeeling guilt for wrongdoing
repentant · ashamed · rueful · penitent · sorrowful · chagrined · self-reproach · compunction · guilt-ridden · sheepish
amends
Compensation for wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
- healingRestoration of health
olive branch · making up · mending fences · reparation · restoration · rapprochement · truce · settlement · smoothing over · patching up
deference
Yielding to another's judgment
- modestyAbsence of vanity
- meeknessGentle, unassertive disposition
- self-effacementDownplaying one's importance
respectfulness · humbleness · eating crow · eating humble pie · swallowing pride · bowing · kowtowing · prostrating · genuflecting · groveling
responsibility
State of being answerable
- answerabilityObligation to explain oneself
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
blameworthiness · ownership · duty · obligation · onus
- life skillsreading, writing, cooking, cleaning, laundry
- social skillssocial skills, conversation, sharing, helping, listening
- reconcilingforgiving, mending, peacemaking, mediating, compromising
- social behaviorcourtesy, etiquette, friendship, greeting, cooperation
- taking responsibilityowning up, admitting fault, confessing, accountability, making amends
- conversationlistening, talk, talking, chat, speaking
apologizingdenying
Refusing to acknowledge
blaming · deflecting · accusing · justifying · doubling down
apologizingdefying
Actively refusing obedience
doubling down · digging in · brazening out · insisting · persisting
apologizinginsulting
Showing contempt through words
attacking · accusing · berating · condemning · dismissing
apology, apologize, apologetic, apologies, apologized, apologizes, apologist, unapologetic, apologise