public apologies
Formal mass contrition
Public apologies are formal expressions of regret issued by individuals, organizations, or governments to address wrongdoing or offense.
Unlike private apologies, they're performed for an audience—often through press conferences, official statements, or social media.
The phrase implies scrutiny: public apologies are analyzed for sincerity, parsed for hedging language like "I'm sorry if anyone was offended," and judged on whether they accept genuine responsibility.
The CEO's public apology failed to address the actual harm done.
- sorryExpressing regret or apology
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- press conferenceOrganized media Q&A
press tour · accountability · shame · regret · taking responsibility · confession · televised · politician · celebrity · statement · sincerity · tearful · reputation · damage control · damage limitation · mea culpa · crocodile tears · redemption
- newspaper errorstypos, errata, corrections, misquotes, misprints
- decommunizationstatue removal, lustration, plaque removal, de-Stalinization, denazification
public apologiesdoubling down
Strengthening a risky commitment
non-apologies · standing one's ground · victim-blaming · counterattacks · stonewalling
public apologiescounterattacks
Offensive responses to aggression
defamation · retaliation · character assassination · smear campaigns · legal threats
public, apology, publicly, publics, publication, publish, publisher, publishing, publicize