25
contrite(adjective, sad, humble, regret, remorse)
24
sorry(adjective, sad, unhappy, regret, remorse)
19
remorseful(adjective, sad, unhappy, sorry, regret)
19
repentant(adjective, sad, unhappy, regret, remorse)
18
regretful(adjective, sad, unhappy, sorry, regret)
17
penitent(adjective, sad, unhappy, sorrowful, sorry)
16
rueful(adjective, sad, unhappy, sorry, regret)
9
conscience-stricken(adjective, sad, unhappy)
9
excusatory
8
ashamed(adjective, sorry, guilty, embarrassed, regretful)
7
compunctious(adjective, sad, unhappy, sorry, regret)
7
guilty
7
penitential(adjective, sad, unhappy, regret, remorse)
6
apologia(noun, attack, statement, justification)
6
apology(noun, attack, statement, justification)
6
atoning(adjective, sorry, regret, remorse, penitent)
5
bad(adjective, sad, unhappy, sorry)
5
defense(noun, attack, statement, justification)
5
justification(noun, attack, statement)
5
propitiatory(adjective, sorry, regret, remorse, remorseful)
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APASmart Define. (2015). apologetic thesaurus. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/apologetic/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "apologetic thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/apologetic/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 21, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, apologetic thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/apologetic/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "apologetic thesaurus" 14 April 2015. Web. 21 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/apologetic/thesaurus/synonyms>