making amends
Righting past wrongs
Making amends is attempting to repair harm you've caused—apologizing, compensating, or otherwise trying to set things right.
The phrase implies acknowledgment of wrongdoing and genuine effort toward reconciliation: He spent years making amends for his past behavior.
In twelve-step programs, making amends is a formal step involving direct acknowledgment to those you've harmed.
- forgiveCease to blame
- ask forgivenessSeek pardon for wrongdoing
- reparationCompensation for injury done
- apologizeAcknowledge a fault
- repentFeel remorse, resolve change
say sorry · compensation · accountability · remorse · swallow your pride · restitution · atonement · acknowledgment · eat humble pie · take the blame · rectification · expiation · make it right · reconciliation · bury the hatchet · clear the air · redemption · sincerity
- apologiessorry, forgive me, my mistake, mea culpa, sincere apology
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- kind actshelping, aiding, assisting, donating, sharing
- Making Peaceapology, compromise, forgiveness, truce, peace talks
- reconciliationreconciliation, reconcile, reconciled, reconciling, make up
- reconcilingforgiving, apologizing, mending, peacemaking, mediating
making amendsadding insult to injury
rubbing salt in the wound · transgressing · victimizing · sinning · trespassing
making amendsmaking excuses
Offering justifications for shortcomings
passing the buck · stonewalling · gaslighting · playing the victim · doubling down
making amendsholding a grudge
burning bridges · severing ties · retaliating · getting even
maker, making, amend, amends, remake, makes, remade, amendment, unmade