Synonyms of sorry

sorry

adjective

ˈsär-ē 

1

as in lame

arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust

one more sorry stunt like that and you'll be fired

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lame
• pitiful
• mean
• cheap
• dirty
• nasty
• hateful
• wretched
• disgusting
• deplorable
• lousy
• vile
• pitiable
• contemptible
• despicable
• sneaking
• scabby
• scurvy
• grubby
• shameful
• paltry
• ratty
• disgraceful
• scummy
• cruddy
• loathsome
• odious
• abhorrent
• abominable
• revolting
• detestable
• repulsive
• repugnant
• condemnable
• execrable
• discreditable
• ignominious
• dishonorable
• shabby
• craven
• sordid
• disreputable
• ignoble
• reptilian
• cowardly
• unscrupulous
• reprehensible
• revulsive
• squalid
• dastardly
• low
• unethical
• base
• blamable
• unprincipled
• censurable
• reproachable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• admirable
• commendable
• laudable
• praiseworthy
• creditable
• honest
• meritorious
• noble
• honorable
• good
• scrupulous
• upright
• right
• reputable
• redoubtable
• principled
• moral
• virtuous
• righteous
• ethical
• high-minded
• right-minded

2

as in sad

causing unhappiness

we have sorry news to report tonight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sad
• depressing
• unfortunate
• pathetic
• tearful
• heartbreaking
• saddening
• mournful
• melancholy
• disturbing
• teary
• dismal
• dreary
• drear
• lamentable
• deplorable
• distressful
• heartrending
• discouraging
• moving
• woeful
• distressing
• perturbing
• grievous
• touching
• disquieting
• poignant
• discomforting
• disheartening
• affecting
• dispiriting
• discomposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• glad
• happy
• cheery
• inspiring
• welcome
• pleasant
• stimulating
• heartening
• stirring
• delightful
• uplifting
• cheering
• enjoyable
• agreeable
• satisfying
• pleasing
• pleasurable
• heartwarming
• thrilling
• exhilarating

3

as in pathetic

deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)

the ragtag circus was a sorry spectacle indeed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pathetic
• sad
• pitiful
• lame
• miserable
• disgusting
• wretched
• bad
• contemptible
• despicable
• pitiable
• poor
• shameful
• disgraceful
• notorious
• hateful
• infamous
• deplorable
• worthless
• odious
• abominable
• discreditable
• disreputable
• stinking
• ignominious
• abhorrent
• detestable
• lousy
• shocking
• unworthy
• beastly
• dishonorable
• inferior
• scandalous
• misbegotten
• sordid
• unsavory
• meritless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decent
• excellent
• outstanding
• admirable
• worthy
• notable
• noticeable
• commendable
• respectable
• noteworthy
• perfect
• creditable
• meritorious
• laudable
• reputable
• presentable
• praiseworthy
• noble
• honorable
• honest
• redoubtable
• straight
• flawless

4

as in ashamed

feeling sorrow for a wrong that one has done

she's genuinely sorry for hurting his feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ashamed
• remorseful
• apologetic
• regretful
• repentant
• contrite
• penitent
• weeping
• compunctious
• sheepish
• rueful
• grieving
• shamefaced
• wailing
• sorrowful
• plaintive
• mournful
• dolorous
• lugubrious
• woeful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unrepentant
• unapologetic
• remorseless
• cruel
• ruthless
• impenitent
• pitiless
• merciless
• shameless
• unmerciful
• unashamed
• compassionless

5

as in unhappy

feeling unhappiness

was sorry to see the family farm being sold

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sad
• unhappy
• heartbroken
• depressed
• miserable
• bad
• upset
• worried
• disappointed
• melancholy
• saddened
• sorrowful
• uneasy
• hopeless
• troubled
• mournful
• heartsick
• crestfallen
• dejected
• inconsolable
• woeful
• disconsolate
• downcast
• despondent
• brokenhearted
• gloomy
• glum
• forlorn
• wretched
• woebegone
• blue
• doleful
• melancholic
• joyless
• distressed
• depressing
• droopy
• discouraged
• hangdog
• suicidal
• downhearted
• down
• down in the mouth
• heavyhearted
• low
• low-spirited
• heartsore
• cast down
• aggrieved
• grieving
• tearful
• despairing
• sunk
• regretful
• disheartened
• dispirited
• weeping
• unquiet
• bleak
• anguished
• somber
• morbid
• plaintive
• lugubrious
• wailing
• desolate
• lachrymose
• rueful
• agonized
• dolorous
• morose
• gray
• dark
• sullen
• cheerless
• dismal
• elegiac
• dreary
• black
• comfortless
• saturnine
• darkening
• funereal
• murky
• drear

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• glad
• happy
• delighted
• cheerful
• joyous
• joyful
• ecstatic
• blissful
• cheery
• jubilant
• gleeful
• excited
• sunny
• exuberant
• buoyed
• merry
• upbeat
• buoyant
• euphoric
• jolly
• rapturous
• hopeful
• exultant
• enraptured
• chipper
• optimistic
• jovial
• rhapsodic
• jocular
• mirthful
• overjoyed
• blithe
• jocose
• elated
• rosy
• gladdened
• sanguine
• exhilarated
• pleased
• smiling
• gladsome
• satisfied
• encouraged
• vital
• laughing
• thrilled
• content
• energetic
• spirited
• entranced
• lively
• jocund
• perky
• frisky
• bouncing
• animated
• blithesome
• vivacious
• gratified
• careless
• lightsome
• jaunty
• springy
• sprightly
• peppy
• unconcerned
• grinning
• zippy
• heartened
• carefree
• cavalier
• lighthearted
• easygoing
• boon
• insouciant
• sprightful
• beaming
• happy-go-lucky
• devil-may-care

6

as in heartbroken

expressing or suggesting mourning

those sorry rituals that we go through when somebody dies are not for the dead but for the living

Synonyms & Similar Words

• heartbroken
• weeping
• mournful
• funeral
• sad
• bitter
• grieving
• wailing
• regretful
• unhappy
• lamentable
• aching
• anguished
• sorrowful
• melancholy
• tearful
• crying
• depressed
• agonized
• woeful
• plaintive
• doleful
• lugubrious
• rueful
• somber
• dolorous
• bemoaning
• dolesome
• morbid
• plangent
• dark
• bewailing
• bleak
• pathetic
• deploring
• funereal
• miserable
• heartsick
• dejected
• inconsolable
• crestfallen
• dispirited
• disconsolate
• downcast
• elegiac
• despondent
• bleeding
• moody
• groaning
• brokenhearted
• suffering
• keening
• gloomy
• glum
• moaning
• forlorn
• woebegone
• darkening
• downhearted
• careworn
• desolate
• dirgelike
• howling
• black
• pessimistic
• gray
• heartsore
• low
• wretched
• piteous
• low-spirited
• morose
• sullen
• bawling
• cheerless
• dismal
• joyless
• dreary
• comfortless
• triste
• yammering
• saturnine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• happy
• delighted
• joyful
• triumphant
• smiling
• cheerful
• laughing
• cheery
• bright
• rejoicing
• hopeful
• merry
• joyous
• jolly
• optimistic
• blissful
• encouraging
• exulting
• cheering
• lighthearted
• glorying
• mirthful
• buoyant
• blithe
• ecstatic
• giddy
• euphoric
• rapturous
• rhapsodic
• blithesome
• jocund
• heady
• elated
• exhilarated

7

as in poor

deserving of one's pity

some sorry wretch had the task of putting all of those files back in order

Synonyms & Similar Words

• poor
• pathetic
• pitiful
• miserable
• wretched
• sad
• horrible
• pitiable
• terrible
• disturbing
• piteous
• heartbreaking
• regrettable
• rueful
• lamentable
• impressive
• awful
• deplorable
• emotional
• inspiring
• mournful
• heartrending
• poignant
• moving
• distressing
• touching
• sorrowful
• stirring
• upsetting
• grievous
• affecting
• woeful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unimpressive
• uninspiring

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sorry different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of sorry are contemptible, despicable, pitiable, and scurvy. While all these words mean "arousing or deserving scorn," sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness.

this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car

When is contemptible a more appropriate choice than sorry?

The meanings of contemptible and sorry largely overlap; however, contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values.

a contemptible liar

When might despicable be a better fit than sorry?

The synonyms despicable and sorry are sometimes interchangeable, but despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation.

a despicable crime

Where would pitiable be a reasonable alternative to sorry?

While in some cases nearly identical to sorry, pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity.

a pitiable attempt at tragedy

How are the words scurvy and despicable related as synonyms of sorry?

Scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust.

a scurvy crew of hangers-on

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sorry

For those who haven’t seen the only good movie based on a board game (sorry, Battleship), Clue has multiple endings in order to simulate the repeatability of the game. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026

Miller was jogging by the bandstand last week in City Park and noticed its sorry state, the mayor’s office and others told The Denver Post on Wednesday. — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 2 Sep. 2026

Luwi felt sorry that Ivan hadn’t learned to speak English better. — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

The 'better safe than sorry' mindset, while useful for physical threats, severely restricts career growth, fostering inaction and fear of failure. — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026