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

Evidence of silence quietly (sorry) breaking apart one’s bearings bleeds through both the main plot thread and satellite storylines, which include recurring visits to a client of Ninh’s and that man’s own conflicts with his distant wife. — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026

So, sorry to Aaron, and hello to Viva Paper Towels, who is putting up $20,000 for the winner of this challenge. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026

Well, sorry, Conch Republic, but America’s real Fantasy Fest has now begun across America. — Greg Cote august 7, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026

Dax Poprawski, whose relatives work in the business, was sorry to see that the track had been reduced to a skeleton of itself, with rusting, exposed steel beams and weeds growing around it. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026