sorry

adjective

ˈsär-ē How to pronounce sorry (audio)
Definition of sorrynext
1
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust one more sorry stunt like that and you'll be fired

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2
as in sad
causing unhappiness we have sorry news to report tonight

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3
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy) the ragtag circus was a sorry spectacle indeed

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4
as in ashamed
feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done she's genuinely sorry for hurting his feelings

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5
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness was sorry to see the family farm being sold

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6
as in heartbroken
expressing or suggesting mourning those sorry rituals that we go through when somebody dies are not for the dead but for the living

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7
as in poor
deserving of one's pity some sorry wretch had the task of putting all of those files back in order

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word sorry different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of sorry are contemptible, despicable, pitiable, and scurvy. While all these words mean "arousing or deserving scorn," sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness.

this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car

When is contemptible a more appropriate choice than sorry?

The meanings of contemptible and sorry largely overlap; however, contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values.

a contemptible liar

When might despicable be a better fit than sorry?

The synonyms despicable and sorry are sometimes interchangeable, but despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation.

a despicable crime

Where would pitiable be a reasonable alternative to sorry?

While in some cases nearly identical to sorry, pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity.

a pitiable attempt at tragedy

How are the words scurvy and despicable related as synonyms of sorry?

Scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust.

a scurvy crew of hangers-on

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sorry Some of those starts were even with MBM—sorry, Garage 66. —Greg Engle, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025 Please be aware of its many deficiencies and sorry in advance! —Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2025 There’s no room for feeling sorry for ourselves in the NBA, in life in general. —Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025 The teen’s attorney, Bob Dunlap, said at the time his client was sorry for what occurred. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for sorry 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorry
  1. lame
  2. sad
  3. pathetic
  4. ashamed
  5. unhappy
  6. heartbroken
  7. poor
  8. pitiful
Adjective
  • As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.
    — Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
  • My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
    — Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Definition of lame
Adjective
  • January 26, 2025: Once again, the Bills lose their playoff game against the Chiefs, sparking a bunch of sad Josh Allen edits on TikTok.
    — Glamour, Glamour, 27 Jan. 2025
  • In a sad irony, her grieving family strives to live by Maggie’s words and channel her spirit.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Something drastic has to be done with this pathetic group of men masquerading as basketball players.
    — Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2025
  • On Vanderpump Rules, this man was smug, pathetic, punchable.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Jan. 2025
Definition of pathetic
Adjective
  • Patrick Mahomes was ashamed of his spike attempt, too.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2025
  • This tender moment is just more proof that even the toughest-looking guys in sports aren't ashamed of the sensitive side their kids bring out, and might actually be eager to show the world how much their families mean to them, on and off the field.
    — Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 27 Jan. 2025
Definition of ashamed
Adjective
  • Witherspoon presents Margot not as some unhappy bachelorette, but as a modern, self-reliant woman.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 29 Jan. 2025
  • The Thailand-set season sees a new crop of unhappy, rich vacationers at a luxurious resort.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2025
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • When Tai Shan was sent to China and separated from his parents, Nguyen was heartbroken.
    — Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
  • And now, a heartbroken mom has gone viral on TikTok, opening up about losing her 3-year-old daughter to invasive Strep A in 2022.
    — Ashley Vega, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • Though Osbourne had a farewell tour set to begin in 2023, he was forced to cancel the shows due to poor health.
    — Rosa Rahimi, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Lopetegui was eventually sacked on January 8, having failed to fix West Ham’s poor form.
    — Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • But that resulted in a pitiful rebounding effort and a below-average defense.
    — Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
  • This isn’t to say Orlok isn’t evil, but that his evilness does not exclude him from being pitiful.
    — Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of pitiful

Thesaurus Entries Near sorry

sorrows (for)

sorry

sort

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Cite this Entry

“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorry. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sorry

Nglish: Translation of sorry for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sorry for Arabic Speakers

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