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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Recent Examples of apologizing
On Friday, the zoo resumed business, with officials bowing to visitors and apologizing for the trouble caused.
—
CBS News, 1 May 2026
Macedo followed with thoughtful remarks while apologizing because her giggling son kept climbing into her arms.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
The episode ends with Earl apologizing for helping destroy the planet before noting that dinosaurs have been on Earth for 150 million years and that nothing will change that, even as the planet is covered in snow from a new Ice Age.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
The settlement includes an email the commission sent to SpaceX on April 8, formally apologizing for an October 2024 meeting in which officials voted 6-4 to reject a launch increase for the Falcon 9 rockets.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
In a statement to the Palm Beach Post, one of the boy’s parents issued a statement through a spokesperson apologizing for their son’s actions.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian also drew opprobrium last month after apologizing to Arab neighbors and declaring there would be no more attacks against them.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Lozana would be reinstated, but only after apologizing and earning back some trust in team workouts.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The pop singer shared a message on social media about the tour cancellation, apologizing to fans who were looking forward to the shows.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
CBS News, 1 May 2026
Macedo followed with thoughtful remarks while apologizing because her giggling son kept climbing into her arms.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
The episode ends with Earl apologizing for helping destroy the planet before noting that dinosaurs have been on Earth for 150 million years and that nothing will change that, even as the planet is covered in snow from a new Ice Age.
—Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
The settlement includes an email the commission sent to SpaceX on April 8, formally apologizing for an October 2024 meeting in which officials voted 6-4 to reject a launch increase for the Falcon 9 rockets.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
In a statement to the Palm Beach Post, one of the boy’s parents issued a statement through a spokesperson apologizing for their son’s actions.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian also drew opprobrium last month after apologizing to Arab neighbors and declaring there would be no more attacks against them.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Lozana would be reinstated, but only after apologizing and earning back some trust in team workouts.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The pop singer shared a message on social media about the tour cancellation, apologizing to fans who were looking forward to the shows.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologizing
Verb
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In October 2014, TMZ obtained an audio recording of Collins allegedly confessing in a 2012 joint therapy session with then-wife Faye Grant to molesting underage girls.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
-
Robinson left a handwritten note for his romantic partner confessing to the crime, and also confessed to friends on the chat room platform Discord, prosecutors said.—
Matthew Brown,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing, excusing the allegations as an accounting error.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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But Australians should maintain confidence in due process, and refrain from jumping to conclusions by either damning Roberts-Smith or excusing him.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gianni Infantino tried to defend FIFA’s World Cup ticket prices by explaining American sports to Americans.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
Berry later apologized by email to Crocker, Cal-OSHA’s Sacramento District Manager, explaining that an arson and bomb investigator for Cal Fire, Gershom Slonim, had told Voller not to grant the interview.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Quiet-luxury proponents would often speak of frequency of use and cost per wear in justifying a four-figure black wool sweater.—
Marisa Meltzer,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Military technology has become more sophisticated, but the minds justifying its use are stuck in the past.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Apologizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologizing. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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