SORRY Synonyms: 370 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

sorry

adjective

ˈsär-ē

Definition of sorry

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sad

causing unhappiness we have sorry news to report tonight

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as in pathetic

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

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as in ashamed

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

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as in unhappy

feeling unhappiness was sorry to see the family farm being sold

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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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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 And sorry, fans, Keisean Nixon’s starting spot is likely not in jeopardy because of the fellow South Carolina Gamecock. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 27 July 2026 Dax Poprawski, whose relatives work in the business, was sorry to see that the track had been reduced to a skeleton of itself, with rusting, exposed steel beams and weeds growing around it. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026 Asked whether his first dates — sorry, podcast editions — should ideally end with a kiss of sorts gets Glassman to his stand-up act, where talk of dating etiquette and rules fill his comedic quiver. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026 America appears to be in the midst of an outbreak of—I’m sorry, but there’s no better way to say this—explosive diarrhea. — Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sorry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorry

Adjective

In that time seven states seceded from the Union, while lame-duck Pres.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Aug. 2026
The jokes are still wildly scattershot and frequently, knowingly lame; the production is still cheap and cheerfully scrappy; the whole ragged enterprise is still reliant on the evident affection and chemistry between its players to hold it together.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of lame

Adjective

Washington Post cartoonist Clifford Berryman quickly produced a cartoon showing Roosevelt refusing to shoot a tiny bear cub with big sad eyes and a rope around its neck.

— Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
These sad conventions; these American ways of being, pacing to the end of a block and back like hamsters.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

Father Ruiz, who was from Peru, by contrast always felt a little ashamed of not having studied in any concerted way.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Rather, marijuana is part of the private language keeping Molly and Frankie afloat, and instead of feeling ashamed, the soulmates have designed their lives around celebrating weed as a kind of romance.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of ashamed

Adjective

Some Democratic board members noted that voters unhappy with Lukas’ performance can express their dissatisfaction in the 2028 election.

— Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
When the motorcycle crew was unhappy with the drugs, Hinman and Beausoleil got into a confrontation.

— Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of unhappy

Adjective

But tensions have opened up between data center boosters and some community organizations that want to see more jobs and economic benefits go to local residents, especially predominantly poor Hispanic farm and food processing workers.

— Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Conventional wisdom usually attributes those failures to changing markets, disruptive competitors, or poor leadership.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of poor

Adjective

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.

— Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
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.

— Hector Vickers, New York Times, 21 June 2026

Definition of pitiful

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“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorry. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sorry

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