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
Minutes before, Combs begged the judge for mercy, while apologizing to his ex-girlfriends.
—
Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
But Kirson is the first to release a lengthy statement apologizing while also confirming the donation of her salary.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Before she was sentenced, Roske delivered a short statement to the court apologizing to Justice Kavanaugh.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2025
In response, Johnson issued her own statement apologizing directly to ASU, the Honey Beez, and Hornet Nation.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Safety Kyle Hamilton, one of the team’s defensive leaders, opened his news conference by apologizing to the fans.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Mel Owens had a lot of apologizing to do in The Golden Bachelor‘s season premiere — and his ladies proved that looking good is the best revenge.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
Owens, in an earlier interview with USA TODAY, estimated apologizing more than 20 times in the first episode − in groups and individually.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
He was detained on the spot and could be heard apologizing to Trump, according to an affidavit viewed by the Associated Press.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
But Kirson is the first to release a lengthy statement apologizing while also confirming the donation of her salary.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Before she was sentenced, Roske delivered a short statement to the court apologizing to Justice Kavanaugh.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2025
In response, Johnson issued her own statement apologizing directly to ASU, the Honey Beez, and Hornet Nation.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Safety Kyle Hamilton, one of the team’s defensive leaders, opened his news conference by apologizing to the fans.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Mel Owens had a lot of apologizing to do in The Golden Bachelor‘s season premiere — and his ladies proved that looking good is the best revenge.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
Owens, in an earlier interview with USA TODAY, estimated apologizing more than 20 times in the first episode − in groups and individually.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
He was detained on the spot and could be heard apologizing to Trump, according to an affidavit viewed by the Associated Press.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apologizing
Verb
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Nickerson was immediately terminated after confessing to the behavior, McKinzie wrote in an email to the congregation at the time.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Sep. 2025
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There's been lingering romantic tension between Crudup's UBA exec Cory Ellison and Witherspoon's anchor Bradley Jackson since early on in the Apple TV+ series, and despite Cory confessing his love for Bradley in season 2, things haven't quite worked out for them — yet.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Celebrating or excusing violence is abhorrent.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Sep. 2025
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Procedures for excusing or deferring jury duty differs by county, according to the state’s judicial website.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Disorders like tremors can be traced to specific misbehaving circuits in the brain, Munyon said while explaining the procedure.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Oct. 2025
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Robinson also leans on ChatGPT to talk through lifestyle adjustments like meal prep ideas, travel accommodations, and communication strategies for explaining her health needs to clients and colleagues.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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During the event, Dixon argued in favor of armed political action, while justifying it as self-defense against Nazis, fascists and White supremacists.—
Julia Bonavita , Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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That was until Eric Adams stepped in with a rare veto on the council’s vote, justifying his decision by claiming that the Bronx should have the same odds to be chosen for a casino as other parts of New York City.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apologizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apologizing. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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