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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 There’s no more feeling sorry for ourselves. Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 That may sound unfathomable to any non-comic reader who watched Steven Yeun's Mark Grayson get bludgeoned, maimed, and nearly disemboweled (sorry, Atom Eve) in an episode-long, cities-spanning fight with Thragg's berzerker warrior, Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025 And sorry to Jimmy Fallon, but Seth Meyers won the interview-off this week. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 The team is soliciting toenail donations (sorry, only from Canadians) to study a type of cancer that arises far from our feet–lung cancer. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sorry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorry
Adjective
  • The Cardinals have historically refrained from operating with a lame-duck manager.
    Katie Woo, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Another main issue is that the power grind itself now being the endgame is no longer a good motivator to play, nor is the Tier system with 3s not much different than 4s or 5s, and all past weapons being somewhat lame now outside of that system entirely.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • How’s this for a sad old country tune?
    Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The results were a shock to the family, but one that was tinged with a sad realization.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And Craig Waterman, the marketing executive from the 2024 film Friendship, took Robinson into new territory with a darker and more pathetic take on the same neurotic type.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2025
  • In his brightest moments, Mike is boyishly gentle, a little wacky, and modestly proud — all in ways that Dillane manages to make feel both pathetic and delightful.
    Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Strength is not something to be ashamed of.
    Brian Mast, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Victims feel embarrassed, ashamed or afraid to admit they were fooled.
    Summer Stephan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Jason Kelce, brother of Travis and former star of the Philadelphia Eagles, has issued a statement after a fake quote of him appearing to criticize those unhappy with the selection of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl Halftime Show went viral.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement Lawmakers are reportedly unhappy with briefings on the strikes, unable to clarify the legal basis of the strikes, and the refusal from Pentagon officials to provide unedited video footage of such incidents.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Actually, more than mad, the guy is heartbroken.
    Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Among those heartbroken fans was DJ Premier, who was one of the first people to comment on his passing.
    Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Porter has been a lead creator before, but that was on cellar-dwelling Houston Rockets squads that became a breeding ground for poor habits.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Young people want better governance and are fed up with suffering from poor services and economies while their leaders get rich around them and inequality grows.
    Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Browns have scored the second-fewest points in the NFL, ahead of only the pitiful Tennessee Titans.
    Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
  • On the side of the highway, Wilson cuts a pitiful, solitary figure.
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorry. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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