Synonyms of apologizing

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.

Related Words

• confessing
• excusing
• explaining
• justifying
• atoning
• rationalizing
• whitewashing
• mitigating
• minimizing
• extenuating
• palliating
• deodorizing
• explaining away
• glossing (over)
• varnishing
• sugarcoating
• accounting (for)
• alleviating
• softening
• glozing (over)
• exonerating
• moderating
• soft-pedaling
• vindicating
• absolving
• tempering
• playing down
• exculpating
• lightening
• lessening
• acquitting
• easing
• clearing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of apologizing

Shortly after the report was published, sources debunked it, stating that Harry and Meghan have no intention of apologizing to the royal family. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 11 Oct. 2026

As Annie was apologizing, the woman with the curls took the bottle from her hand and threw it back anyway. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

According to the family, Gualtier also emailed Diane after Daisy's death, apologizing repeatedly. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 7 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 admittedly nervous executive started Monday’s news conferences by apologizing to the Clippers’ faithful for the aftermath of the Leonard situation. — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

The duo had an emotional elimination, with De Laurentiis apologizing to him over and over for being voted off. — Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026

Converse is apologizing after landing in hot water this week after photos from two separate ad campaigns were criticized by social media users after aspects of the photos drew comparisons to Ku Klux Klan hoods and lynching imagery. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

The women are all in Jessi’s front yard, crying and hugging and apologizing. — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026