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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 In other words, guests who shell out $75K a pop to go to this thing are better off safe than sorry. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 7 May 2025 Federal and state governments have a long and sorry history of using their power to surveil Americans. Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2025 The state’s sorry record of implementing information technology prior to the emergence of AI as a tool warrants skepticism. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 7 May 2025 And don’t use those lemony aerosols (sorry, Pledge), which leave a silicone residue. Clark Hodgin, New York Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sorry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorry
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
Adjective
  • My back hurt from that sad excuse for a chair (seriously, who designs dining chairs to feel like medieval torture devices?).
    Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • Stewart is still thanked by gay fans by creating such a rare, highly visible (albeit sad) representation.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • What with weakened teams and consistently pathetic performances, their league form on both their parts has been pathetic enough to be termed a dereliction of duty.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Take yesterday’s left hook out of nowhere by President Donald Trump, bragging about doing something that would bust even this pathetic budget.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • To lose a series to the Edmonton Oilers is nothing to be ashamed about.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • While red, inflamed skin was often seen as the norm, my flares—ranging from deep brown or purplish dry patches to clusters of tiny, itchy bumps—looked more like a disease to be feared and ashamed of rather than understood and treated.
    Raelle Kennedy, Health, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Netflix In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, Ortega revealed that the massive success following 'Wednesday' actually left her unhappy.
    Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
  • Reports suggested that Daltrey was unhappy with Starkey’s playing on the night, and a number of songs were cut short.
    Thomas Smith, Billboard, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • On the internet, though, he is deemed as the heartbroken, brooding type because ...
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • Agudelo made it through surgery Wednesday to relieve pressure on her brain but only has a 1% chance of ultimately surviving, her heartbroken daughter told the Daily News Thursday.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • The product was released in 2023 to a poor reception, and discontinued before the company began winding down operations in February.
    Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 24 May 2025
  • The original doesn’t go that deeply into it, but this poor girl was essentially forced to be a teen mom at this time in her life when all of her friends would be graduating high school and dating and thinking about their futures.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The pitiful performance by the Texas Rangers against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 divisional round.
    Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2025
  • But the rates were pitiful: $9.87 for a 13-mile trip, $19.97 for a 25-mile trip and so on.
    Eli Tan, New York Times, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sorry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorry. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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