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
As a result, Pacers team president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard took full responsibility for the move, apologizing on social media.
—
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Even more frightening is a judge apologizing to an assassin who risked the lives of 2,000 people while attempting to assassinate the president and his cabinet.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
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
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
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Even more frightening is a judge apologizing to an assassin who risked the lives of 2,000 people while attempting to assassinate the president and his cabinet.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologizing
Verb
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The lawsuit also claims officers choked Day and slammed him against a wall, eventually coercing him into confessing to killing Irving and Garcia.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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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
Verb
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Critics say the higher courts are excusing noncompliance In March, a federal appeals court ruled Sykes, the judge in California, had likely exceeded her authority in requiring bond hearings nationwide and blocked her February decision.—
Sudhin Thanawala,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
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Cherfilus-McCormick has denied wrongdoing, excusing the allegations as an accounting error.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rock and dance music defenders alike have reached for their pitchforks, but Charli isn’t interested in debating or explaining the song to them.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
13 May 2026
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The dramatic trailer opens with Ty introducing himself in a TikTok video and explaining why he was barricaded in his room.—
Janelle Griffith,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Easily the riskiest entry of the year so far, this expensive — $200 million but who’s counting — Amazon MGM Studios gamble, powered by Ryan Gosling’s star turn as a lonely astronaut, has made $573 million globally, justifying its steep costs.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Apologizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologizing. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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