non-apology
Faux mea culpa
A non-apology is a statement that has the form of an apology but avoids accepting responsibility or expressing genuine remorse.
Phrases like I'm sorry if anyone was offended or I'm sorry you feel that way shift blame to the aggrieved party rather than acknowledging wrongdoing.
Non-apologies are common in public relations and politics, where admitting fault carries consequences.
Insincere expression of regret
- hollowEmpty within
- emptyHolding nothing inside
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
- lip serviceInsincere expression of agreement
half-hearted · insincere · disingenuous · superficial · unconvincing · sham · dismissive · unrepentant
Change in trajectory
- equivocationAmbiguous language avoiding commitment
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- blame-shiftingAttributing fault to others
- vaguenessAbsence of precision
circumlocution · dodging · hedging · misdirection · whataboutism · excuse-making · rationalization · justification
Manipulation causing self-doubt
- victim-blamingAttributing responsibility to harmed party
- guilt-trippingInducing remorse deliberately
- self-victimizationAdopting unearned victim status
- minimizationMaking as small as possible
denialism · sophistry · spin · passive-aggressive · condescension · invalidation · tone policing · reframing
Shaping public perception strategically
- crisis managementHandling urgent threatening situations
- public relationsOrganizational reputation management
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- press releaseOfficial statement for media
clarification · statement · controversy · retraction · concession · placate · mitigate · saving face
fauxpology
Insincere expression of regret
- hollowEmpty within
- emptyHolding nothing inside
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
lip service · half-hearted · insincere · disingenuous · superficial · unconvincing · sham · dismissive · unrepentant · self-justifying
deflection
Change in trajectory
- equivocationAmbiguous language avoiding commitment
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- blame-shiftingAttributing fault to others
vagueness · circumlocution · dodging · hedging · misdirection · whataboutism · excuse-making · rationalization · justification · obfuscation
gaslighting
Manipulation causing self-doubt
- victim-blamingAttributing responsibility to harmed party
- guilt-trippingInducing remorse deliberately
- self-victimizationAdopting unearned victim status
minimization · denialism · sophistry · spin · passive-aggressive · condescension · invalidation · tone policing · reframing · revisionism
reputation management
Shaping public perception strategically
- crisis managementHandling urgent threatening situations
- public relationsOrganizational reputation management
- backlashStrong negative reaction
press release · clarification · statement · controversy · retraction · concession · placate · mitigate · saving face · walk back
- non-apologiesfauxpology, sorry not sorry, mistakes were made, sorry but, crocodile tears
- miscommunicationmix-up, mixed signals, confusion, mixed messages, crossed wires
non-apologysincere apology
Genuine expression of regret
heartfelt apology · mea culpa · act of contrition · apology · penitence
non-apologytaking responsibility
confession · admission of guilt · accountability · self-incrimination · coming clean
apology, apologize, apologetic, apologies, apologist, unapologetic, apologetics, unapologetically