1
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
one more sorry stunt like that and you'll be fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sad
causing unhappiness
we have sorry news to report tonight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sorry
Homo naledi’s protein results, with their grave implications (not sorry), prompted Berger and his team to pause their excavations in the cave system, although analysis in the lab continues.
—
ArsTechnica,
25 June 2026
To oppose advert — sorry, hydration — breaks is now, amazingly, to stand opposed to football players having a quick drink after playing 22 minutes in 40C (104F) heat.
—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Records of public meetings and community newspapers feature jabs at how far these sorry kinsmen have strayed from their heritage.
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Eythana Miller,
The Dial,
23 June 2026
For this particular one, there was the cat stuff, but also there was the Monica dating stuff, which is very much based on my horrific experiences, sorry to say.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sorry
ArsTechnica,
25 June 2026
To oppose advert — sorry, hydration — breaks is now, amazingly, to stand opposed to football players having a quick drink after playing 22 minutes in 40C (104F) heat.
—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Records of public meetings and community newspapers feature jabs at how far these sorry kinsmen have strayed from their heritage.
—
Eythana Miller,
The Dial,
23 June 2026
For this particular one, there was the cat stuff, but also there was the Monica dating stuff, which is very much based on my horrific experiences, sorry to say.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sorry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorry
Adjective
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Stronger and more flavorful than in your original lame iteration?
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On paper, some of the six, all of whom are far-right conservatives, have enviable educational backgrounds, but the record has proven that each one is openly political and willing to rubber-stamp nearly all of DeSantis’ lame and unconstitutional policies.
Adjective
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Day broke, bathing everything in light, and so great was the vitality of the early-morning sun that even the unhappy city seemed to smile a wan, sad smile.
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But SpringHill really took off in 2020, two seasons into James’ Lakers term, when The SpringHill Company went public (and the Lakers won the sad COVID-bubble NBA Championship).
Adjective
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Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
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After these first three majors — and after a pathetic showing this week at Shinnecock — there's no reason to bet against it.
Adjective
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She would be horrified, hurt—ashamed, even, of Zeenat’s behavior.
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Legendary Iran striker Ali Daei, widely recognised as one of Asia’s greatest ever soccer players, was once a client but Beiranvand felt too ashamed to introduce himself.
Adjective
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The decade was an unhappy panorama of inflation, gas shortages, military humiliation, and revelations of political corruption.
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On Tuesday, Paul urged Americans who are unhappy with the justices’ ruling to support his proposal.
Adjective
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Was, still heartbroken about the loss of his friend and bandmate, recalled their first time on tour.
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Prince Harry was heartbroken after arriving at Eton College in 1998.
Adjective
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Because of that, these hands suffer from high production costs, poor durability against impacts, short operational lifespans, and there are no existing solutions that engineers can readily draw upon, Wang added.
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The extreme heat can also affect people who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
Adjective
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Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.
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Given the national team’s pitiful demise at the Oval, with New Zealand completing victory on the fifth morning, Ben Stokes’ revival in absentia feels like the only consolation from a miserable week.
Cite this Entry
“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorry. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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