mea culpa

noun

Definition of mea culpanext
as in apology

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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 mea culpa Britain’s mea culpa follows apologies from Scotland, Wales, the Church of England and other nations, as countries confront postwar policies that separated unwed mothers and infants. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 On The View Tuesday, Vance elaborated on that mea culpa. — Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 17 June 2026 But is their mea culpa too little, too late? — Alex Hogan, STAT, 12 June 2026 And, by extension, why Almodóvar was so motivated to conceive of this unapologetic mea culpa. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for mea culpa
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mea culpa
  1. apology
  2. excuses
  3. sorrow
  4. sadness
  5. grief
  6. distress
  7. ruth
Noun
  • Leading figures in the security establishment have issued public apologies and left the scene.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The pledge marks a shift from Colombia’s previous apology to Haiti.
    — Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of apology
Noun
  • The rules, which are never explained, are put there as flimsy excuses for aspects of the pilot that don’t hold together otherwise.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Only to see them, after winning elections, get strong-armed by the party, then offer lame excuses as to why.
    — Colleen Kujawa, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of excuses
Noun
  • Because so many of Gunn’s friends died in San Francisco, a city where Gunn had found happiness and freedom, then these elegies are also a monument to a time of communal sorrow and mourning.
    — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Another decision that those who are rejected face, at least if anger is mixed in with sorrow, is where to direct that anger.
    — George Loewenstein, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of sorrow
Noun
  • And that is what produces, for me, the anger and the rage and the sadness.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Fortuna noted rapid surveys also found that children with at least one immigrant parent are more likely to experience nightmares and higher levels of sadness.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • Common issues include grief, divorce or exploring childhood trauma.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Harry seems more at home in conversation with O’Connor, his eyes searching for answers to soft-spoken queries about grief’s effect on the brain, then lighting up with warmth at the memory of Diana.
    — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of grief
Noun
  • The vast majority expressed deep distress and anger at their government after the massacres that took place in response to January’s mass protests.
    — Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
  • While ChatGPT isn’t a substitute for professional mental health care, our safeguards are designed to identify distress, safely handle harmful requests, and guide users to real-world help.
    — Laura Reiley, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of distress
Noun
  • Her sensitive and sublime renderings of such states in her fiction and poetry exemplify this ruth.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Definition of ruth

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mea culpa
mead
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Cite this Entry

“Mea culpa.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mea%20culpa. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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