as in confessing
to express regret for doing or saying something wrong
I want to apologize to you for my rude behavior yesterday. We apologize for the mistake and promise that it won't happen again.
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Recent Examples of apologizing
Wealthy merchants, landowners and even religious leaders enjoyed having nice things in their homes and stopped apologizing for them.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
If your team is constantly apologizing to customers, missing deliverables or running on fumes, growth has outpaced your foundation.
—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The convention’s 2022 annual meeting passed a resolution apologizing to abuse survivors, several of them by name.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Bailey Zimmerman is apologizing after a warrant for the country singer’s arrest was issued following an incident at a New Mexico hotel.
—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster is apologizing after lashing out at a critic.
—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
But the ransom note makes no reference to Nancy Guthrie either dying or the kidnappers apologizing.
—
Michael Ruiz , Matt Finn,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
In January, West published a full-page Wall Street Journal advertisement apologizing for years of antisemitic and other controversial comments.
—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2026
Vinícius' breakout performance brought Brazil back in the wake of a 1-1 draw against Morocco last week that left coach Carlo Ancelotti apologizing to fans.
—
CBS News,
20 June 2026
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
If your team is constantly apologizing to customers, missing deliverables or running on fumes, growth has outpaced your foundation.
—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The convention’s 2022 annual meeting passed a resolution apologizing to abuse survivors, several of them by name.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
Bailey Zimmerman is apologizing after a warrant for the country singer’s arrest was issued following an incident at a New Mexico hotel.
—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster is apologizing after lashing out at a critic.
—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
But the ransom note makes no reference to Nancy Guthrie either dying or the kidnappers apologizing.
—
Michael Ruiz , Matt Finn,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
In January, West published a full-page Wall Street Journal advertisement apologizing for years of antisemitic and other controversial comments.
—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2026
Vinícius' breakout performance brought Brazil back in the wake of a 1-1 draw against Morocco last week that left coach Carlo Ancelotti apologizing to fans.
—
CBS News,
20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologizing
Verb
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During her trial, prosecutors played a recording of Yang confessing to Reuter's murder to a friend who was wearing a wire.
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After his October 2023 arrest on two murder charges, Joshua Elijah Ballard, 25, waived his Miranda rights and sat down with detectives, confessing to fatally shooting both Sebahattin Ciftci, 46, and Emre Bozkurt, 21, over a 10-day span, Det.
Verb
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The center also alleges that the APA has put up roadblocks to allowing an official Jewish affinity group to form, while excusing inflammatory language about Zionism from an Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern and North African affinity group.
-
Plus, our governor issued a memo excusing fans from delays caused by celebrating.
Verb
-
Carpino retired in April, without ever explaining what was not right in the organization or, based on the standings, repairing it.
-
The traditional experience requires waiting on hold, explaining the situation and hoping an agent can help.
Verb
-
The article emphasizes that effective communication of difficult decisions requires not only clear explanation but also genuine empathy for how people feel, rather than merely justifying actions.
-
And yet at the start of the Mass, a priest read aloud a statement justifying the consecrations as a necessary defense of the faith and criticizing how the Catholic Church today had deviated from tradition.
Cite this Entry
“Apologizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologizing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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