apologizing

verb

present participle of apologize
as in confessing
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.

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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 apologizing Target recently received backlash for 'offensive' Halloween costume This comes on the heels of Target apologizing in late August for a Halloween circus clown costume that critics said appeared to conjure Blackface and 19th-century minstrel shows. — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Body-camera video released after the July 6, 2024, shooting showed Massey ducking and apologizing moments before Grayson fired three shots inside the home. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Body camera video of the July 2024 encounter showed Massey crouching in her kitchen and apologizing moments before Grayson shot her in the face. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 On Thursday, four days after her death, Neutrogena released a statement addressing its treatment of Panettiere, but falling short of actually apologizing. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026 Wayne orders Priscilla to shoot Lucky, who is preparing for the worst and apologizing to God. — Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026 So naturally, Melvin came back onto the test kitchen to grab some of the dip before dipping back out and apologizing. — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 Instead of overreaction to Aegon’s taunts, Aemond keeps apologizing. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 Boone announced the postponement in an Instagram story, apologizing to fans who had traveled to attend the show. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologizing
  1. confessing
  2. excusing
  3. explaining
  4. justifying
Verb
  • Of course, confessing to any involvement in Haleigh’s disappearance could also land Trinity in a lot more trouble.
    — Dateline NBC, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026
  • After posting a video earlier this week asking if anyone else couldn’t stop purchasing diamonds via TikTok, his comment section quickly flooded with more than a thousand replies from people across the country, all confessing their little secret.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of confessing
Verb
  • Not that Miss Manners is excusing those who burst into dinner parties after the roast has been ruined — along with the other guests’ attitudes, most likely — and then blame it on traffic.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
  • Part of that is the team’s fault, as Boone and Cashman have spent much of his career staunchly defending and excusing the former first-round pick’s poor play.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026
Definition of excusing
Verb
  • The Big Ten early Sunday morning released a statement and video footage explaining the call.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Restaurant owner Sachiyo Nakato Takahara places noodles, cabbage, onion and tofu into the sizzling, fragrant pot while explaining the significance of the meal, an intimate one typically enjoyed by close friends or family.
    — Nila Roper, AJC.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of explaining
Verb
  • Transparency without context can breed distrust, because disclosing a number is not the same as justifying it, and both expectations and the law have moved on.
    — Aniela Unguresan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • That is why parents, and moms in particular, who historically have taken on most of the child care work and labor in the home—have trouble justifying rest.
    — Parents, Parents, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of justifying

Browse Nearby Words

apologizes
apologizing
apologue
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Cite this Entry

“Apologizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologizing. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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