Synonyms of apologize

apologize

verb

as in to confess

to express regret for doing or saying something wrong

I want to apologize to you for my rude behavior yesterday.

We apologize for the mistake and promise that it won't happen again.

Related Words

• confess
• excuse
• explain
• justify
• atone
• explain away
• rationalize
• mitigate
• extenuate
• minimize
• gloss (over)
• palliate
• whitewash
• account (for)
• deodorize
• sugarcoat
• varnish
• alleviate
• soften
• exonerate
• play down
• temper
• vindicate
• gloze (over)
• lighten
• moderate
• absolve
• exculpate
• soft-pedal
• acquit
• ease
• lessen
• clear

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of apologize

The week before the suit was filed, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized to the community for not alerting law enforcement after Van Rootselaar’s account was banned. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Over the past few years, Justin Timberlake has done a lot of apologizing and taking accountability. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

The former prince, who had a longtime friendship with Epstein and maintained contact with him after his 2008 conviction of procuring a child for prostitution, has previously apologized and denied any wrongdoing. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

The Storm was forced to acknowledge the incident and apologized, before the WNBA later fined Keaton and suspended her from Seattle’s next five home games. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026